Help & Support Echo’s Recovery Journey

Team fundraiser

Crystal Riha and Nicole Riha are organizing this fundraiser.

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It is with heartache and devastation that we share the tragic accident that our 18-year-old little sister, Echo, was involved in.

Echo was crossing the street in a pedestrian crosswalk early morning on Thursday, September 21st when she was hit by a truck and sustained a traumatic brain injury. She was transported to the ICU where she has been in critical condition since. As a result, Echo had to undergo a craniectomy to remove the left side of her skull to relieve the pressure built due to brain contusion and bleeding. She was in a medically induced coma for 8 days and has since undergone a tracheostomy in addition to fighting off pneumonia. She is currently non-verbal but can follow small commands and has full function in her arms and legs. Even though this is a small victory, Echo’s journey will continue to be an extremely long and difficult one. She will have to reside in a neurological rehabilitation center where she will relearn to walk, talk, and function in the world again. In addition to this, she must also live without the left side of her skull for 3-6 months before undergoing another surgery (called a cranioplasty) to reconstruct the left side of her skull. Once she is ready to come home, she will need a long-term health aide/caregiver by her side. The estimated timeline for her recovery is anywhere from 6 months to a year, possibly more.

Echo is a kind, beautiful, and generous soul who was only a couple months away from getting her high school diploma. She is constantly involved in her community and volunteers at her local church group. In addition to this, she is also an extremely talented artist who brings warmth, light, and smiles into everyone's life.

We are graciously asking for help from anyone who is willing and able. In addition to the accumulated medical bills and unforeseen costs, we would like to provide our mother with the support she needs. She is a single mother of four (ages 26,24,18,15 ) who works in the restaurant industry and does not receive any sick or vacation days for time missed. But most importantly we thank everyone who shares Echo's story and sends all of the healing love, thoughts and prayers her way.