Published Thursday, October 29, 2009
'Miracle after miracle after miracle happened'
The Newnan Times-Herald
The 10-year-old girl hit by a truck on Corinth Road Oct. 19 is back home with her family and is expected to make a full recovery.
The Ishams couldn't be happier that their daughter -- Damaris, or "Dee," -- will have the opportunity to celebrate her 11th birthday in December. They also couldn't be more pleased with the way the community has rallied around them in their time of need.
Oct. 19 had been a typical day. Rob and Ruth Isham had just finished supper with their children, Dee, Noah, 12, and Trey, 9.
Ruth decided to take Dee shopping. On their way out, they noticed a video that needed to be returned to the mailbox, according to Rob. The Ishams reside in the 1000 block of Corinth Road near Red & Ed's convenience store. Their mailbox is across the street from their house, which is located on a curve.
"We have accidents at our house often," said Rob. "I regularly hear the screeching of tires and screaming. That evening, I instinctively got the phone and dialed 911 with no belief that it was my own daughter."
Rob looked out the window and noticed their van was still there, but it still didn't register. He couldn't actually see the roadway from his window because his view was obstructed by a row of hedges in the front yard.
Then he heard his wife's voice and overheard someone ask, "Does she have a pulse?"
Rob went outside and stared at the "pile of rags on the road" -- and suddenly remembered that's what his daughter had been wearing.
Dee, who had been struck by a Toyota Tundra as she was crossing the street from the mailbox, was crying and trying to get up. She had blood on her head and her parents couldn't tell the extent of her injuries. Two men who'd stopped to help wrapped Dee in their jackets to keep her from going into shock. Ruth was kneeling over her daughter trying to restrain her from getting up.
Rob relayed as much information as possible to 911. He then noticed a woman -- later identified as Gina Degennaro -- inconsolably crying. She had been in the Tundra that struck Dee along with her husband, Joseph, and their children. They will not be charged in the accident.
Rob comforted her.
"I do not condemn you, I forgive you," said Rob. "Everything is for a reason."
The medics arrived on the scene and began working on Dee, who remained conscious. She was taken by helicopter ambulance to Children's Healthcare in Atlanta. The accident happened at approximately 6 p.m., and Dee was at the hospital by 6:20, according to Rob.
At the accident scene, where Rob and Ruth remained, the investigation began. The family wasn't allowed to clear her clothing from the roadway, and they were delayed leaving the house to get to the hospital.
The Ishams packed some stuff hurriedly and finally arrived at the hospital about 7:30 p.m. They were met by a chaplain who informed them that Dee had suffered a fractured skull and lacerated liver as well as some internal bleeding.
Even in the intensive care unit, Dee remained responsive and doctors remained hopeful of a recovery -- though the first 12 hours were "shaky." Her first word when she could speak again was "ow," and she was able to use sign language to communicate her needs.
She never required any sort of surgery and didn't suffer any broken bones -- even though she'd been thrown 25 feet in the accident.
"Miracle after miracle after miracle happened," said Rob. "Every day she made leaps in her recovery."
He and his wife remained by their daughter's side day in and day out, taking half-day shifts until she was released Tuesday evening. Dee will have to take it easy for a month and undergo some physical therapy.
"She can't run, jump and play yet," said Rob. "Our daughter is virtually 100 percent back -- she's just sore."
Dee said Wednesday that she was glad to be home because she missed her brothers and sisters, and she wanted to "thank everybody in the community."
Rob said he and his wife moved to the area from Florida in 1998. He's a teacher in Douglas County and his wife teaches at Eagles Nest. Their family attends Grace Fellowship Church on Roscoe Road.
"This is a great community we live in. We've learned a lot about love -- love of community, love your children, love your fellow man," said Rob. "It's what really matters in a world of so much materialism. We owe our thanks to the Lord for this miraculous thing that has happened, and to all the people around the world who were praying for our daughter. The community has rallied around us."
"We had no idea what a fantastic community we lived in," said Ruth. "We just want to give our heartfelt thanks."
"We've experienced no travail in this at all," Rob continued. "Every need has been met. It's been like Santa's workshop around here."
Rob's only plea going forward is for motorists to recognize that the speed limit on Corinth Road in front of his house is 45 mph.
"This is not a rural route anymore," said Rob. "It's becoming a highway in a residential area -- people fly through here. We saw another accident there as we were coming home from the hospital."
Rob is hoping for better enforcement of the speed limit, and he plans to petition the post office to allow him to have his mailbox on the same side of the road with his house.
"We want action so this never happens again," he said. "Something's got to change or someone will die. This could have been a tragedy."
