What teen recovering from tragic Wake Forest crash wants for Christmas
WAKE FOREST, N.C. (WTVD) -- It's been three months since a tragic accident on Capital Boulevard in Wake Forest claimed the life of a teen and sent four others to the hospital. Now one of those survivors is speaking publicly for the first time, and instead of worrying about herself, she's worrying about her puppy.
"Slowly over time, as she got older, she started having a limp," said 16-year-old Skyla Kirby, one of several teens injured in that accident in September.
This Christmas, she wants her 9-month old puppy, Dakota, to have what she has recently regained: the ability to walk.
"She can barely even walk; she just hobbles a long," said Kirby.
Dakota has developed problems with her kneecaps and needs surgery on both legs to be able to walk again.
"It's hard watching her not be able to walk, when I know what that's like," said Kirby.
In September, she was a passenger in a three car accident on Capital Boulevard near Caveness Farms Avenue. In the same car she was in, 15-year-old Braden Rock was killed. His older sister Faith and their friend Katie Williams were also severely injured. In the next car, 17-year-old Oscar Rodriguez-Villa was also hurt. No one in the third car was injured.
Kirby said her family and friends have been so supportive through this entire experience. She also said thinking about Dakota while she was in the hospital, cut her healing time there from a month to just two weeks.
"When I was in the hospital something that kept me going in recovery was knowing that when I go home as soon as possible then I'd be able to see Dakota," said Kirby.
Now after two months of physical therapy, Kirby can now walk on her own. She just stopped using crutches this week and before that she was in a wheelchair.
"In physical therapy they often have to tell me to slow down," said Kirby.
She's looking forward to going back to school, hopefully by next semester, but for now she's looking forward to Christmas.
"I was just thinking the other night how weird it would be to wake up on Christmas morning and still be in crutches or a wheelchair. But I'm really grateful I can walk now. Can come downstairs Christmas morning."
And even with two to four months of physical therapy ahead of her, Kirby hopes to one day say the same for the furry companion she says helped her get through one of the toughest times of her life.
The dog's surgery will cost an estimated $1,800 a leg. After this story aired Thursday, a local surgeon offered to perform the needed operation on Dakota for free.
