Peel on the path to recovery

By Michael Glover

Herald-Tribune

Fort Scott, Kan. -- Leesa Peel is on the path to recovery after suffering a severe head injury in a boating accident in August, her family says.

The 16-year-old Fort Scott girl awoke last month from a coma induced by doctors at a children's hospital in Little Rock, Ark. She has since been transferred and is undergoing outpatient care at the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City, Mo., where her family is staying close by at a Ronald McDonald-funded house.

"She's a fighter, you know, a real fighter," said grandmother Beverly Peel. "She's progressing quicker than expected."

Leesa suffered a severe head injury on Aug. 5, when she and a friend were tubing on Greer's Ferry Lake in Arkansas. A WaveRunner and Leesa's innertube collided, knocking both girls into the water. Investigators concluded the accident was caused by "operator inattention" on the parts of both the WaveRunner driver and the driver of the boat pulling the innertube, Lt. Stephanie Weatherington, boating law administrator for Arkansas Fish and Game, said.

Leesa was transported to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, Ark., where she has received treatment for serious head trauma, a fractured jaw and a fractured collar bone. Doctors slowly allowed Leesa to come out of the coma they had induced in the days following the incident.

Currently, Leesa is undergoing six to seven hours of occupational and physical therapy. Her speech is good, but doctors tell the family she'll have sustained problems of short-term memory and weakness on the left side of her body, Suzanne Peel, Leesa's mother, said.

The therapy is expected to last eight to 12 weeks and then Leesa may come back to Fort Scott, a trip she is anxiously awaiting, Beverly said.

"She wants to get back to school, back with her family and friends," the grandmother said.

She's walking with assistance -- using a walker. Doctors don't know if she'll be the same as she was prior to the accident.

They're hopeful, just like the family.

The accident has placed emotional, physical and financial burdens on the family. The financial burden eased a bit with generous donations from several fund-raisers that generated about $2,000, Beverly said. Also, a fund has been established in Leesa's name, and donations can be made through City State Bank, 202 Scott Ave., at (620) 223-1600 or by contacting Beverly Peel at (620) 223-5528.

Last Sunday, Beverly took Leesa's brother Brady to see her in Kansas City. They celebrated Brady's 5th birthday. It was a special occasion.

"The whole thing -- it's a miracle," Beverly said.