Name: Avery R
Condition(s):
- Head Injury
Specialty(s):
Age at Treatment: 11
Age Today: 12 Years
Meet Avery
On June 11, 2024, Avery’s life changed forever. While playing at a friend’s house, Avery was attacked by two dogs. Due to the severity of the injuries to her head and neck, Avery was rushed to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where she underwent a nine-hour surgery. Avery’s mother, Drew, was devastated and heartbroken. “The trauma team didn’t miss a beat,” she says. “Nurses, doctors, surgeons and even a chaplain surrounded us with purpose and compassion.”
After her initial surgery, Avery was placed into a medically induced coma and intubated to help her body heal. The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) became her family’s temporary home, and the staff became their lifeline. Drew was included in Avery’s care at every step. The care team invited her to their morning meetings, and when Avery moved to another unit, the nurses taught Drew all the skills she needed to be her daughter’s full-time caregiver. “That gave me strength,” Drew says.
During her month-long inpatient stay, Avery had two more surgeries and began physical, occupational, speech and music therapies. She had to relearn how to walk and feed herself. She also had to begin healing from the trauma of the event, assisted by Child Life specialists and psychologists who helped her understand what happened and put it into words.
Since being discharged, Avery has had several more surgeries and has continued her therapy. But she’s moved on from being just a patient – now she’s a survivor. With her family’s support, Avery is an advocate for other dog bite victims and is fighting for “Avery’s Law,” a bipartisan Ohio bill that would impose stronger penalties for the owners of dangerous dogs. The bill passed the Ohio House of Representatives earlier this year.
Avery is also busy being a 7th grader. She’s back to playing basketball, her favorite sport. She’s learning to write code and would like to develop video games someday, if she’s not already playing for the WNBA. Despite all the adversity she has faced, Avery takes on every day with confidence and courage.
“None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary team at Nationwide Children’s Hospital,” Drew says. “Their skill saved her life, but their heart gave us the hope to rebuild it.”
To support more kids like Avery and their families, give to Light Up the Lawn, Light Up a Life.
