Medford, Ore. — A two-year-old girl is fighting for her life, after her spine was severed in a rollover accident this weekend. Aniyah Bennett’s family told NBC5 News the young girl is in serious condition at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland.
First responders originally thought Aniyah had only suffered minor injuries, but an MRI revealed the damage could be life threatening.
“Just below her head, it was completely severed, so her head was basically not even attached to her spine,” Tanya Bender said, Aniyah’s grandmother.
Aniyah and her grandparents were rushed to Portland by Mercy Flights, where she underwent emergency surgery Sunday night.
“At least 30 doctors were waiting for us when we got here,” Bender said.
Surgeons reconnected her spine, and put pins in to hold it. They’re also monitoring her spinal fluid, which may be leaking, and causing slight paralysis.
“She can’t use her left arm right now, she’s kind of paralyzed, she can barely, she can move her fingers just a tiny bit,” Bender said.
Police say the crash that caused these injuries happened just before 10:30 Sunday morning.
Medford Police Sergeant Tom Ianieri said Lindsey Todd was behind the wheel of a Kia, driving too fast down Court street, when she struck a concrete wall and sign.
“It had to hit with quite a bit of force, because it’s concrete,” Sergeant Ianieri said. “It knocked the concrete out of it’s position, and partially destroyed the wall.”
Todd was cited and released for DUII, assault, and reckless driving. Aniyah and her mother, both passengers in the car, were taken to the hospital.
Aniyah and her grandparents will be at the hospital in Portland for at least the next two weeks.
They have set up a Go Fund Me account to help them with expenses. To help the family, click here.
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