A young woman has told how she survived an unimaginable crash that tore her body apart.
Leila Jane Logan was just 15 years old when she lost control of her ATV and accidentally crashed into a parked car.
The catastrophic accident occurred on May 22, 2022.
Leila, who was traveling at 80mph at the time, was left unconscious at the scene of the accident.
Passersby stopped to help the unconscious boy until paramedics arrived and took over.
Layla was then airlifted to St. Mary’s Hospital in Florida.
Since the accident, she has undergone countless surgeries, including treatment for a traumatic brain injury.
The girl’s mother, Alison Logan, said the treatment had changed her daughter’s personality.
Leila, now 17 and attending school in West Palm Beach, Florida, told the US Sun:
“To be honest, I don’t remember most of my time in the hospital either.
“And from what I’ve seen and heard, I think it’s a good idea not to.
“I can’t believe it was really me.
“Luckily, my parents were by my side throughout the entire process.”
Mum Alison said she was horrified when she received the phone call any parent would dread: that their child had been in an accident.
Alison, 45, rushed to hospital but doctors told her her daughter was unlikely to survive.
“When my husband and I arrived at our destination, [see] Our daughter is on life support,” Alison said.
“Upon arrival, we were told that she would most likely not survive for more than 72 hours.
“They placed a monitor on her head to monitor cranial pressure and brain swelling.”
Leila’s injuries included more than 10 cerebral hemorrhages, damage to her brainstem, severed brain, dissection of her carotid artery, lacerated liver, internal bleeding and a fractured jaw.
Despite the unfavorable conditions, the teenager survived. However, she lost her consciousness and her road to recovery was long and dangerous.
In the weeks following the accident, Layla suffered from neurostorming, an overreaction of the sympathetic nervous system that causes her body to be unable to regulate its body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Doctors also performed a tracheotomy and were forced to wire her jaw shut because she was unable to breathe on her own.
This procedure is a safer alternative to intubation when the patient’s prognosis appears to be permanent.
Alison said: “She was still considered unconscious, but a few days after the accident she started moving her fingers and toes on her left side when asked.
“Not always, but sometimes.”
About three weeks later, Layla woke up from her coma.
Alison added:
“Layla’s awakening only meant that she could follow orders and perform some tasks and endure longer treatments, but she is still lost in her mind. It seemed like it.
“At this point she could not speak, walk or move the right side of her body.
“Her eyes started following us. She was following me, my husband, and my second daughter around the room.
“It’s strange when there are no living people left.”
She continued: She said: “Before the accident, Layla was a high-level athlete and a very bright child, but she is now a far cry from the girl we remember.
“There were days when she didn’t even know who her father was.
“In my daughter’s body, she was literally a different person.
“It was very scary, very scary, and a lot of tears were shed.”
Leila quickly regained movement in her legs and was able to walk with the help of a walking belt and assistive devices.
On June 28, the wire in her jaw was removed and she spoke for the first time.
She was discharged from the hospital 11 days later.
Layla made it out of the forest, but the battle wasn’t over yet.
“She didn’t need a wheelchair, as the doctors expected, which was great,” her mother recalls.
“She was mentally retarded and her memory was still quite impaired.
“She also gets tired easily.
“However, Layla went back to school a few months later and even did some cheerleading, albeit with many restrictions.”
Alison believes the experience has made her family value things more.
She said: “We all knew we had witnessed a miracle and it was amazing to be a part of it.
“We still have different treatments and restrictions to manage, but it’s not as difficult as it used to be.
“My daughter is living a normal life for the most part now.
“Layla is different, but we have all grown to love our new world.”
In the aftermath of the accident, Leila becomes frustrated with some of her challenges. But she always comes through strong and has hope for her own future.
“I’ve never liked people telling me, ‘I can’t do something,'” she said.
“I have to work harder now, but I like challenges.
“I’m grateful to be alive, but sometimes I miss the way I used to live.
“But I have a new perspective on life, and I’m told I’m a lot nicer!” she said.
