Grace's Amazing Journey: Overcoming Traumatic Brain Injury with Support from Children's Hospital New Orleans

Grace Turner, a 24-year-old student at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, is on track to achieve her goal of becoming a physician assistant—a career path that holds deep personal significance.

Her journey to this point has been anything but easy. Ten years ago, Grace’s life changed forever. A severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) nearly took her life, leaving doctors unsure if she would ever wake up, let alone fully recover.

Grace’s journey as a TBI survivor has transformed her into a resilient advocate for others facing similar battles. Reaching this point, though, took immense struggle, courage, and the unwavering support of a community that never gave up on her. 

A Life-Changing Accident

It started out like any other day in August 2014—a fun afternoon at a friend’s house. But the day took a tragic turn when a go-kart accident left Grace with serious injuries, the most severe being a traumatic brain injury. The vehicle struck a pivot point and flipped unexpectedly. Although Grace was securely strapped in, her head hit the metal bars of the roll cage, resulting in what doctors would later describe as a “starburst” fracture—a severe skull fracture that spread damage across multiple areas of her brain.

The impact affected every lobe of her brain, leaving her in critical condition. She was immediately rushed to Lafayette General Hospital, the only Level II Trauma Center in the area, arriving unresponsive, with fixed and dilated pupils—a sign of severe trauma. For her parents, Mandy and Patrick, who had rushed to the hospital expecting just a minor injury, the reality was devastating.

“It felt like time had stopped,” Mandy said. “I remember standing there, numb, as the doctors told us she might not make it. It was like our world had come crashing down in that single moment. It was hard to process what the medical team was telling us. I just kept thinking, will she be alive? Will she be okay? “

But the answers were painfully uncertain—doctors told the Turner family it was a wait-and-see.

“As a parent, you want to protect your child, and seeing Grace in that moment was difficult,” added Patrick. “But from the start, we knew our daughter had a spirit that would push through anything.”

Emergency Care and the Journey to Specialized Rehabilitation

The medical team at Lafayette General Hospital fought to stabilize Grace, even as early tests showed minimal brain activity. In those first days, the Turners braced themselves for the possibility they might lose their daughter. Grace was placed on a ventilator, and later, a tracheostomy was performed, and a feeding tube was inserted to manage her care. The prognosis was bleak, but Grace's parents kept holding onto hope. Each small twitch or movement brought a glimmer of faith and doctors remained cautiously optimistic.

Over the next five weeks in the hospital, Grace’s parents sat by her bedside, pleading, “Grace, if you can hear us, wiggle your fingers or toes.” Miraculously, she would respond, moving her fingers and toes. Yet, whenever the neurosurgeon came to assess her condition, those movements stopped. “The neurosurgeon told them, “Those are just involuntary reflexes, not purposeful movement.”

Despite brief reflexive responses, Grace remained largely unresponsive, showing no signs of meaningful interaction or true wakefulness. Nevertheless, her family clung to hope, but the journey was daunting.

“It felt like every time we took two steps forward, we’d take three steps back,” Mandy recalled. “We’d have these good days, then the next day we’d face infections and fevers.” Grace’s brain was struggling to regulate her body temperature, and her immune response was impaired, causing frequent setbacks.

Grace underwent surgery to reconstruct her face with titanium plates, a necessary step to address the severe injuries from the accident. Although still mostly unresponsive, her doctors sensed a glimmer of hope as she began to show gradual signs of brain activity. With limited resources in Lafayette, Grace’s team recognized the need for a hospital equipped to handle complex pediatric neurorehabilitation.

Grace was transferred to Children’s Hospital New Orleans, where specialized pediatric care and a comprehensive neuro program could provide the intensive support essential to her recovery journey.

“Seeing her transferred to Children’s Hospital was both heartbreaking and a relief,” Mandy shared. “We knew she was finally in the best place to receive pediatric care to begin healing and rebuilding.”

Rehabilitation: Grace's Path to Recovery

Grace was admitted to the Inpatient Rehabilitation Center at Children’s Hospital, the only CARF-accredited pediatric specialty unit in the Gulf South, uniquely equipped to handle complex pediatric cases. Her neuro-rehabilitation team, including pediatric neurologist Ann Tilton, MD recognized Grace’s potential and initiated an intensive regimen of stimulants and personalized therapies—including occupational, physical, speech, and music therapy—designed to reawaken her brain and help her relearn essential skills, from holding a spoon to taking her first steps. 

"Some days were harder than others," Grace recalled. "But I held onto the thought of getting back to my life, of going after the things I still wanted to do." Her determination and perseverance impressed her therapists and caregivers, who watched her regain abilities and build confidence with each session.

During her six weeks in the neuro-rehabilitation unit, Grace’s days were packed with rigorous therapy sessions, each helping her overcome new physical and emotional challenges. Grace had to relearn how to eat, speak, write, walk, sit, use the restroom, and even breathe on her own. Her therapy team pushed her, knowing each step forward brought her closer to independence. Together, they built the skills she needed to transition from hospital to home, conquering challenges that once seemed impossible.

Mandy recalled that each day brought new challenges for Grace but her resilience showed through. “There were so many times she wanted to give up, but she kept fighting.”

Grace’s cognition came back quickly, but memory and speech were a struggle. She’d had facial surgeries and five paralyzed nerves affecting her brain and face, so forming words and making her mouth and throat muscles work was challenging. They used electrotherapy to prepare her for eating again. Speech therapy was multifaceted—it helped her with swallowing and getting her facial muscles to work again. Grace’s recovery was a slow climb, marked by milestones that seemed minor to anyone else but were monumental for her. Her therapists were not only experts but became her biggest cheerleaders. Her speech therapist, Sarah Jane, continued to challenge her, determined to see her succeed. Grace grew stronger and more determined, winning small victories that added up to a remarkable recovery.

By the time she left inpatient rehab, her trach was out, though she still had a feeding tube (which was removed eight weeks after her discharge), and she began outpatient therapy closer to home in Lafayette. Children’s Hospital referred her to a nearby facility where she continued therapy for two years.

Pursuing Her Dreams: Grace’s Career Aspirations

Today, 24-year-old Grace is thriving. She sees her neurologist in Lafayette for regular medication refills. She’ll need medication for life to support her sleep-wake cycle and address occasional issues that arise.

“I feel mostly normal,” Grace said. Though she has peripheral vision limitations and some balance issues since the accident, her stability has greatly improved over the years. “I’m in a much better place today than I was back then,” she adds.

Now, as Grace looks ahead, she’s focused on a career where she can make a meaningful impact in others' lives. Inspired by the kindness and dedication of her medical team at Children’s Hospital, she is determined to pursue a career in healthcare, with hopes of giving back to others in their times of need.

“My experience taught me to be more compassionate and truly see each patient as a person,” Grace shares. “It’s important to spend time getting to know them and build rapport, not just treat them like a diagnosis. That connection can make all the difference.”

As part of her PA training, Grace completed her pediatric clinical rotation at Children’s, the same hospital where she received care a decade ago. Her journey as a TBI survivor shapes how she interacts with her patients, guiding her to treat each one with the empathy and understanding she once needed herself.

Grace’s parents continue to share her story, hoping it will inspire others to never give up hope and, importantly, to take helmet safety seriously and raise awareness about traumatic brain injuries.

“God had a purpose for her,” said the Turners. “We share her story to show others the impact of prayer and perseverance—and to offer hope to those facing their own challenges.”

For more information about the Inpatient Rehabilitation Center at Children’s Hospital, visit Pediatric Physical Inpatient Rehabilitation Center New Orleans, LA