So… December 18th, 2024, is the day my life changed forever. I don’t remember much only knowing what I’ve been told by my parents. I called my mom at 2:56 AM telling her I couldn’t breathe. When she got upstairs to my room she asked if I needed to go to the ER. (if you know me my answer about going to the ER would always be no) I told her yes and looked her in her eyes and told her I wasn’t going to make it. She immediately called 911 and they came and on the way down the stairs, due to the lack of oxygen going to my brain, I had a seizure and went unconscious. All my mom heard was “She’s having a seizure, put her down” and she looked over to see me on my side having a seizure. Before my parents were able to see me in the hospital I was intubated and my right lung collapsed and then my left lung followed. They didn’t find this out until they had made their way to SLU. I was under sedation for 42 days(if you don't count the times I'd wake myself up from it lol). There were a lot of ups and downs during my stay from my oxygen dropping when they rolled me on my side to me trying to pull the tubes coming out of my body, and throwing up when I was finally able to eat real food. My parents were my advocates since I was in a medically induced coma and couldn't speak when I first woke up. The doctors were pushing my parents to let them put in a G-tube so that way I could go to a rehabilitation center in Chicago. My parents got told by multiple people that if I went there I would not make it because “that's where people went to die” because apparently the staff there would give up on their patients. When I was finally able to speak for myself I decided I wanted the G-tube and the doctor who pushed so hard to do it while I was under sedation said “Let's wait a couple of days and see if things change” because this person knew they were wrong in the beginning and i didn't need it. During my time awake there are a few things that I remember one being that the trauma surgeon placed my trach wrong which they had to fix later and after that, I took tremendous strides in the right direction. I believe the next day or a few days after I started pt/ot they were surprised at how strong I had gotten after a few sessions. Before I knew it I was being moved up from ICU and going home in 4 days… 36 hours after I had been discharged from the hospital I ended up being back in the hospital due to my oxygen dropping and having pneumonia once again which I stayed for another four days. When I finally got home for good I was so ready for my life just to go back to normal which seemed impossible to me. I used a walker for about 2.5 weeks due to my shaking and still being weak. I started pt/out and started to feel stronger after a couple of weeks considering I was going 2-3 days a week. After 6 weeks I was discharged from them as of last Wednesday and this past Thursday I was released from my ENT doctor. I probably forgot a lot of things but for now this is it.

EDIT: forgot to add that in my right hand I had an IV that was in and due to them pushing medications in that weren’t supposed to be pushed in and my wrist being in restraints that were pushing up against the IV caused my vein to blow and have nerve damage. The two most noticeable spots are now keloids.

I would like to thank my parents for being by my side the entire time. For those of you who came and saw me and prayed over my family and me, I would like to thank you as well. I am a walking MIRACLE!!! The nurses at SLU I would like to thank them as well,especially Dacia Horne, who would force me out of bed in the morning and shaved my legs when I realized they were so bad😂😂 and just cared for me like I wasn't just another room number to her.

Once again, thank you all for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. I love you all.💗

Also if you’re a parent or can use your voice and speak to the doctors do NOT let them push you into something you have no idea about or need time to think on and do research on. You know what’s best for your child and yourself.

Hey everyone! We want to extend another HUGE thank you to all who have shown their support and been praying for Ari! She was released from the hospital on 02/03/25, but then back again from the 5th through the 8th. She is doing so well, better than anyone expected at this point, but also still has a ways to go with recovery and rehab. It's time to start paying those bills, and we're quite far from reaching our goal, which truly will need to be exceeded, we will update that number when we have received the total. Don't forget to keep praying, sharing, and giving as you are able and led to do so!  

First, I want to send my deepest thanks for the outpouring of support that we have received from friends, family, and community. When we first made the decision to post Ari's story, we did so with heavy hearts. 

Her situation was something that no parent should have to witness, but there we were, on this Rollercoaster that had short highs and low lows. 

A day of progress would be followed by days of regression for one reason or another. Due to that, I was not able to keep up with the updates as planned, and for that, I apologize.

Today, I come to you all with very promising news. By the grace and mercy of God, Arianna has taken some tremendous strides in the right direction. She is more awake and alert then she has ever been and even began some physical therapy. As of this morning, she was taken completely off of the vent and will remain off of it until tonight (unless she begins to struggle) this is much to the surprise to her medical and respiratory team. I would like to thank those that have made the trip to St. Louis to see Arianna and for those that have found other ways to show support. Arianna does have access to her phone and would love to continue to hear from you all. When she finally was able to turn her phone on, she had over 120+ messages! So amazing!!! Arianna still has a long road to recovery, but she has been fighting since day 1 and we know she will continue to do so. God bless you all…

Sincerely, 

Winter

Thank you so much to all who are praying and who have given so far, you are a true blessing to this family! Ari is making progress, praise God! She was taken off of ECMO on 01/08/25. She is still heavily sedated and intubated, but so far responded well to being off of ECMO. Keep the prayers coming, give as you are able, continue sharing this campaign!