Sequoyah Smith, Trauma, Car Accident

On May 17, 2009, Sequoyah Smith - a 16-year-old softball player and student at Crossroads Christian Academy in Lenior City, TN - found herself rushing home in the darkness to make curfew. At a friend’s house just up the road from her own, she left a little late, put on her seatbelt and began the short drive home. She did not realize the roads were still slick from the earlier rain. She lost control of the car as she went around a corner and slammed into a utility pole. But she really doesn’t even remember that.

The accident that Sequoyah cannot remember brought her to the University of Tennessee Medical Center and its Trauma team that sprung to action when she arrived. “I am so grateful for everyone and how they helped me,” Sequoyah says. “They really took care of me.” She spent approximately 2 months in a coma as family, friends, medical center staff, church members, community members and even strangers prayed for her recovery from her life-threatening injuries.

“It’s amazing how fast you can go from things being fine to hospitalization,” says Barry, Sequoyah’s dad. “She is not allowed to talk on the phone or text message while driving, and you think that will help keep her safe.”

Sequoyah’s injuries were extensive and kept even the medical center staff worried. She suffered injury to her liver, spleen, kidney, pelvis and ribs in addition to other injuries. In total, her medical center stay was 67 days. She had 3 trips to the operating room in addition to her 60 days in the Intensive Care Unit and 44 days on a ventilator. Sequoyah also had chest tubes, tracheostomy, central and arterial lines and received 40 units of blood during her hospitalization.

“We were well taken care of here (at UT Medical Center),” says Kelly, Sequoyah’s mom. “When we left, we missed our nurses. It was very bittersweet. But we are so thankful.”

At any time, the waiting area at the medical center was filled with bright lime green – her favorite color – in the form of t-shirts, ribbons, bandanas and more. The lime green began showing up at the medical center to show support as friends and family prayed for her recovery. That unity then branched out to other patients in need of prayers and support. Dubbed “The Green Team,” supporters waited three months for Sequoyah’s return home.

She returned home from Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center in Knoxville, TN, on Aug. 1, 2009, to a very public welcome in a sea of green t-shirts, balloons, signs, bracelets and more. “She actually walked out of the hospital, which was incredible after what happened just a couple of months before,” Barry explains.

Sequoyah still lives with no memory of the accident. She relies on her parents and friends for memories of her stay at the medical center. Her short-term memory continues to heal, which could take up to a year and a half to improve. Although her physician visits are much less frequent, Sequoyah still is not allowed to drive due to seizures from head injury. Amazingly, Sequoyah began the 2009-2010 school year with the rest of her classmates. After almost not making it through 3 times, Sequoyah and her family reflect on how far she has come and how lucky they are that she is still with them.

“To look at her … to watch her is great,” says Barry. “There is so much peace on her face now. To know where she started and to see her now is amazing.”

Watch the Volunteer TV video Thanksgiving dinner at UT Medical Center.