In what can only be described as a traumatic turn of events, 26-year-old Jayde Hankerson is now recuperating at home after an accident during Northwest High School's Homecoming Parade in Colerain Township left her seriously injured. As reported by LOCAL12 News, Hankerson was at the parade on Friday when a seizure—one of the many she has battled since being diagnosed with epilepsy at age 13—caused her to collapse and subsequently be run over by a horse trailer.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Hankerson's injuries, including a fractured pelvis, were addressed with urgency at UC Medical Center. "I blacked out," Hankerson said, as she recounted the ordeal to WLWT. After a successful surgery involving the insertion of two screws, her survival has been called a miracle by doctors. Sheri Pope, Hankerson’s mother, shared with LOCAL12 her own reaction upon receiving the initial news, "I got a phone call from her dad, and he said, 'Oh, she's been in an accident,'" a moment filled with dread and apprehension for any parent.
The WLWT reports that while Hankerson's usual routine, including her cherished walks around the block, is suspended during recovery, she maintains a positive outlook, expressing gratitude and smiling despite the pain. Her mother hopes for a full recovery that will allow her daughter to return to her favorite outdoor activities. The Northwest Local School District conveyed its concerns and well-wishes to Hankerson and her family in a statement sent to WLWT.
Amid mounting medical expenses and the long road to rehabilitation ahead, Jayde Hankerson's family has started a GoFundMe campaign to solicit community support. Diamond Hankerson, Jayde's sister, detailed the frightening moments and the subsequent medical interventions on the fundraiser page, saying, "Providers were concerned that with how small her pelvis is that the screws that were needed to be placed would cause nerve damage. But with the blessed hands of the surgical team, nurses, PCA, and whoever else was involved in Jayde’s care, she was able to come out of surgery successfully." She goes on to highlight the need for assistance with her sister's ongoing care and unexpected expenses.
Colerain Township Police continues to investigate the incident, with full cooperation from the driver involved in the accident. The local community is rallying behind Hankerson as she faces a challenging recovery, underscored by her family's efforts to garner support via their fundraising platform and beyond. Persons interested in contributing to the recovery efforts for Jayde Hankerson can find more information or donate through the provided GoFundMe page link.
