Meet Ragan

Ragan Morris’s life is a perfect illustration of the power of perseverance. It was on Memorial Day weekend of 2016 her life was changed forever and nearly ended.

She planned to spend the day as she had for many years with her family and friends on the lake, but her plans ended abruptly when the jet ski Ragan and her friend were riding collided with another jet ski. She was thrown from the jet ski and slammed head first into the other one. Witnessing the collision from the shore, two guys nearby immediately jumped into the lake and swam out to retrieve her.

They were able to get her out of the water and on a pier, but she was unresponsive by the time paramedics arrived. She was then life-flighted by helicopter to a hospital where the medical team was able to stabilize her. Quickly, they decided she needed expert care by Pediatric Neurologists and sent her, once again, by helicopter to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham.

After being admitted to the ICU, a slew of medical tests, cat scans and many other medical tests revealed she had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Her official diagnosis was Diffuse Axonal Injury; an injury whose victims rarely live long enough to make it to the hospital. And for those who do survive, the vast majority rarely regain consciousness. Suffice it to say, the odds were heavily stacked against her. 

 

In total she spent 81 days in the hospital, and by the time she was discharged, doctors prepared her family for “a very long road to recovery with no guarantee of success” and that was assuming she was lucky.

       

Over the next several years, she and her mother Katherine, spent many long days/weeks/months traveling from one rehab facility to another. She missed her entire 9^th grade year of high school and had to learn to talk, walk, eat and drink all over again. But learn, she did! She re-entered high school as a sophomore and graduated on time with the rest of her class, three years later.

Her rehab continued and she was able to participate in the good things life has to offer: Walking, talking, eating, hiking, time with friends, and time on the lake!

   

   

She has had much help from many people and organizations along the way, not the least of which is Magic Moments. They surprised her with a trip to New York City where she and her family experienced everything the Big Apple has to offer: Great restaurants, musicals, the Statue of Liberty and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Both she and her family are eternally grateful to Magic Moments for gifting her the experience of a lifetime!

 

   

Although not without its challenges, Ragan’s life is filled with much happiness and gratitude. Today, she works at a local country club helping take care of children. Her rehab continues, she keeps moving forward, and inspires everyone she meets with the constant refrain: Never Give Up!