Out of coma, beloved teacher undergoes surgery
The family of Casey Delaney waited on pins and needles all day Wednesday into the night as their beloved daughter and sister underwent a second surgery to her skull more than a month after she was hit by a personal watercraft while floating on the Gatineau River.
The 26-year-old kindergarten teacher and avid athlete has been recovering at The Ottawa Hospital’s Civic Campus since the hit and run on July 1. Her sister, Kristin, 24, confirmed she was placed in a medically induced coma for a few weeks after her initial brain surgery to allow for her healing. She slowly came out of the coma in mid-July and has since been able to speak and walk, but doesn’t remember the incident.
“She didn’t remember the accident and still doesn’t, and that’s normal,” Kristin said. “But her long-term memory was still intact and she remembered all of the family … it’s coming back to her.”
Kristin, who has been speaking to media on behalf of the family, said Casey’s first surgery involved the removal of part of her skull to curb the swelling and her recovery has been “above and beyond” the expectations of her doctors and nurses.
On Wednesday surgeons worked for eight hours to replace that section of her skull with titanium mesh to control the contamination caused by the river water.
“We’ll see what happens and we’ll see how she takes it,” said Kristin. “So right now there’s not too much that we know, which is why it is especially nerve-racking.”
Since emerging from a coma, Casey has been doing rehabilitation sessions at the hospital’s General campus and has been drawing strength from the ongoing community support.
“Positivity and positive energy have been something that she has always believed in … all the thoughts and prayers (sent her way), I truly believe this has played an important part in her recovery,” Kristin said. “Since she’s woken up and got to see how many people have reached out and supported the GoFundMe (page) or any way they can.”
The Delaney sisters were enjoying a quintessential Canada Day weekend — an annual camping trip — when things went horribly wrong.
According to the Sûreté du Québec, Casey was on an inflatable island with friends on the river near l’Île Patry, about 25 kilometres south of Maniwaki, when two men approached on their personal watercraft. Police say the operator tried to splash the group using the watercraft, but Casey was struck. The driver took off and did not return to the scene.
Kristin, who was sitting at a nearby picnic table when her sister was struck, heard friends screaming and someone say that Casey had been hurt. She was pulled off the raft, and her boyfriend, Scott Labrosse, a former lifeguard, performed CPR.
Casey was rushed to hospital, where she was diagnosed with a fractured skull, trauma to the brain and internal bleeding.
Robin James Golby of Orléans has since been charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm, failing to remain at the scene, and criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
Kristin says the family is not thinking about the legal process and is focused on her sister’s recovery.
“We are just prioritizing Casey at this time. Especially since she’s in surgery and doing her best to recover. So our focus is entirely with her.”
She didn’t remember the accident ... But her long-term memory was still intact … it’s coming back to her.