Michaela’s  Story

“We saw hope in her eyes.” – Michaela’s mom

A day of winter fun in February 2020 became one of the worst days ever for the Wolford family. 

Eleven-year-old Michaela was snowmobiling when she ran into a grain bin. Her helmet wasn’t latched. It flew off, leaving her with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), a broken arm and wrist, fractured pelvis and numerous facial fractures. Michaela spent 37 days in a pediatric ICU at a local hospital before moving to an inpatient rehab center for five months.

“At the rehab facility, she couldn’t communicate or even hold her head up. Eventually, an iPad was introduced hoping to help with communication. Our biggest day was when she typed that she wanted to see her brothers. Our girl was in there. We saw hope in her eyes,” says her mom, Julie.

After being released, Michaela underwent outpatient rehab at a facility near her home. Her mom realized that Michaela needed a different kind of rehab, one focused on kids. After researching pediatric therapy, they decided on Children’s Hospital of Michigan’s Stilson Specialty Center, managed by Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan (RIM).

“It was a year after her accident. She could walk with gaited assistance and her speech was progressing slowly. She needed intense therapy to keep her recovery going. Her therapists focused on big things like improving her gait and speech, to little things like writing and brushing her hair.”

Michaela says she’s really connected with all her therapists. She feels very comfortable with them. Her mom credits her physical, occupational and speech therapists for their expertise, hard work and love.   

“They really catered to her pediatric needs. And they provided great support to my husband and me.”

Michaela is now in the 11^th grade and continues to receive therapy at Stilson. She is a National Honor Society student, on the varsity bowling league and is attending Ed Tech where she’s focusing on a career in education.