Worthington’s Albert is home after luge accident
Renee Albert received the best birthday present she could have wished for.
Albert celebrated her 53rd birthday Friday by welcoming home her daughter, Adeline, who spent nearly a month in a hospital in Pyeongchang, South Korea, after suffering a traumatic brain injury Feb. 7 while training in the luge with the USA national team. Adeline is a sophomore at Thomas Worthington.
“It was my best birthday present ever,” Renee said. “I couldn't have asked for anything more. She's home, my husband is home. The gang is back together again and Adeline's twin sister, Avah, is beyond happy and is a different kid because it's been tough on her, too.”
Adeline was training with her twoman partner, Maggie Richardson, at the time of the accident in Seoul. Richardson, who is from Mount Vernon, was not injured.
Adeline underwent surgery the following day to relieve pressure on her brain and stop the bleeding. She spent several days in intensive care before having a second surgery, a cranioplasty,
Feb. 21 to repair an area of her skull.
“It's great to be home,” she said. “I don't remember the accident. I've been told about the accident and the things I may have said, but I don't remember anything until two weeks after I was in the hospital.”
Adeline took a 14-hour flight home with her father, Rob, who flew to South Korea the day following the accident.
She had her first appointment at Nationwide Children's Hospital on Monday with Dr. Jeffrey Leonard, chief of neurosurgery, and is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday to determine the next step in her recovery.
Adeline said her headaches have subsided dramatically the past two weeks. She hopes to return to school soon.
“We're still playing this low-key and still saying those prayers and our graces, and hopefully we're still taking those positive baby steps that we've been saying all along,” Renee said. “She's doing phenomenal. She's allowed to take slow walks with us.”
Adeline was introduced to the winter racing sport in 2017 during a local search for participants by USA Luge. She was named to the USA national training youth program in May 2019 and has been able to travel the world to compete and train.
She hopes to resume training and someday qualify for the Winter Olympics.
Renee estimates the hospital stay cost about $35,000, which she said will not be covered by the family's primary insurance company or by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee's insurance company. Renee said the family had to pay the bill out of pocket to get Adeline released from the hospital.
To help defray the cost of medical expenses, a family friend started a Givesendgo fund at givesendgo.com/supportingadelinealbert.