MISSOULA, Mont. – Family members of Tricia McCullough are working to lift cash to assist could for medical and residing bills following the horrific wreck. They are saying she continues to recuperate, however add there’s a prolonged highway forward with continued rehabilitation required.
“She has been designated a whole quadriplegic,” her father instructed KHQ. “She was discharged from St. Luke’s two weeks in the past. She had some feeling in her fingers a number of weeks in the past, however she has misplaced it sadly. We’re all nonetheless praying for her.”
The household says they’re so grateful for the fixed help from the neighborhood.
“She’s getting stronger and studying to make use of her physique in new methods, however nonetheless fighting emotional ups and downs,” he mentioned. “We’re renovating a duplex to make it handicapped accessible.”
They’re working to lift funds to assist make that challenge good for Tricia, and to additionally cowl different prices related along with her continued care. They’ve an upcoming occasion set for April 20 on the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, constructing 1. The fundraiser will characteristic The Kelly Hughes Band and all you possibly can eat chili. There might be a silent public sale as nicely. Extra particulars may be discovered HERE!
Final up to date on April 17 at 4 p.m.
Roads are treacherous throughout the area as soon as winter climate falls, and one North Idaho household know the risks all too nicely after their daughter and her beloved canine hit a patch of black ice and spun uncontrolled. The duo was heading from Kootenai County to Helena.
Tricia and Piper
The crash left the driving force, 22-year-old Tricia McCullough, with a damaged neck, in keeping with her household. She is at the moment recovering from a number of different accidents too. Her father Dave says the crash occurred the day after Christmas gatherings.
“It was good having all the children house,” Dave McCullough mentioned wistfully. “Good celebration.”
Dave says his daughter is in her fourth yr at Carroll Faculty in Helena with goals of working as a nurse. She has one semester to go and was heading again after Christmas when the household believes she hit a patch of black ice close to Missoula. They are saying her automobile rolled a number of occasions.
“It was horrific,” he mentioned. “I’ve seen a variety of automobile accidents, and this was one of many worst ever. It was unhealthy.”
The automobile after the wreck
So unhealthy that Tricia was rushed to the hospital with crucial accidents. Dave says the household was instructed Tricia’s neck was damaged, and he or she had misplaced all feeling in her legs.
“Prayer warriors throughout the nation have been praying for her night time and day,” he mentioned. “She was capable of elevate her proper arm yesterday, which was big. She has a little bit feeling in her fingers, in order that’s excellent news.”
Due to COVID, customer restrictions on the hospital solely allowed for Tricia’s mom to be by her facet, so Dave says he put all of his power into looking for his daughter’s finest buddy, Piper–the pup who had vanished after the wreck.
“I simply didn’t know what to do, so I went searching for the canine,” he mentioned.
Piper was using with Tricia, and phrase that she was lacking after the crash shortly unfold. Piper was ejected from the automobile, however family members held out hope for the very best.
“Folks began exhibiting as much as assist,” Dave mentioned. “It was a reasonably violent accident. I might estimate Piper landed about 100 toes from the truck.”
Hour after hour, buddies, household, and even strangers combed by way of the crash website and past whereas Piper braved the weather for 2 nights, alone.
“We discovered Piper, however she was very, very afraid… she went by way of a really traumatic expertise as nicely,” he mentioned.
She ran off once they tried to seize her after the primary sighting, however shortly after, she was lastly retrieved by a neighbor who introduced Piper to the hospital.
Discovering Piper
“Tricia bought to see her after being moved out of the ICU,” Dave mentioned.
It was an indication of hope and love when one has by no means been wanted extra.
Dave says along with Tricia’s ardour for the medical area, she’s additionally a really proficient artist, so they’re very hopeful the motion in her higher physique is a promising signal. Their focus now could be on discovering the very best rehabilitation choices for Tricia. Anybody involved in serving to the household elevate cash for her care and therapy can go to the household’s GoFundMe to study extra. Donations can be made to any native Wells Fargo department by saying you need to contribute to the ‘Tricia McCullough Donation’ account.