A single mother-of-two in Calgary, Canada has urged parents to keep a close eye on their kids after her two-year-old daughter was partially paralyzed due to falling on a drinking glass.
Jaclyn Derks was playing in a fort she’d built at her grandparent’s home when she fell on the object placed between a couch and bed, leaving shards deep in the back of the toddler’s neck on July 22.
The horrific slip sent glass through her spinal cord and left the child partially unable to move the left side of her body.
Jaclyn Derks, 2, (pictured with mom Kayla Rudichuk, 25,) was playing in a fort she’d built at her grandparent’s home when she fell on the object placed between a couch and bed on July 22
Rudichuk described it as one of the scariest incidents admitting she thought she’d lose her child after the freak accident that sent her to emergency surgery the same night
Her mother Kayla Rudichuk, 25, described it as one of the scariest incidents.
‘I’ve never seen so much blood, so much pain,’ she told CTV News, adding that she got the phone call about her daughter when she was grocery shopping.
The severe injury was enough to make the mom-of-two think she was going to lose her youngest girl but she is recovering after emergency surgery on the night of the accident.
She describes the moment she was told what had happened.
‘I could just hear the panic in her voice. She told me Jaclyn was being rushed to the hospital,’ she reflected in the TV interview.
But according to doctors who treated her, the only other case of a freak accident like this happening has been noted in Turkey.
‘I could just hear the panic in her voice. She told me Jaclyn was being rushed to the hospital,’ she reflected in the TV interview about the day it all unfolded
Jaclyn was sliced through her spinal cord in the accident at her grandmother’s house
According to doctors who treated Derks the only other case of a freak accident like this happening has been noted in Turkey
Although rare, it hasn’t stopped Rudichuk – also mother to five—year-old Jolene Derks – from warning moms and dads to watch out for dangers in their children’s path.
‘Pay as close attention as you can to your babies and keep them close because you never know what can happen,’ she said.
With her daughter lucky to be alive, medical experts are even hopeful she’ll be able to walk again.
Now she’s able to breathe on her own and talk to those around her but can’t fully move her left hand.
It’s progress as the she was unable to move her left leg at one point, however a GoFundMe page states she ‘can’t stand without being supported but she now has braces that help with teaching her to walk and build those muscles back up’.
Two physiotherapy sessions each day have enabled her to go to the Alberta Children’s Hospital playroom and part with her elder sister.
‘Pay as close attention as you can to your babies and keep them close because you never know what can happen,’ Rudichuk said
Rudichuk’s friend of 10 years, Amanda Lane, (left) started a GoFundMe page which has so far raised $8,455, exceeding the $1,000 goal
Two physiotherapy sessions each day have enabled her to go to the Alberta Children’s Hospital playroom and part with her elder sister Jolene (left)
‘I now understand why there are so many great things to say about this place,’ the mother writes on the crowdfunding page, adding that: ‘Jackie is one resilient little angel and the progress is better and better every day.’
Derks’ family is ‘amazed’ with the progress the little one has made but Rudichuk couldn’t hold back tears as she spoke about watching her little one recover and learn things all over again.
‘The hardest part is honestly physio,’ she shared about her usually ‘spunky, crazy, fun, monkey’. ‘That’s when I get the most emotional because even though it’s so positive and so good, it’s a realization that this is what the rest of my life is going to be like.’
With Rudichuk having to take leave from her two jobs to care for her child, pay for medical bills and being financially burdened by a move, friends have already helped raise $8,455, exceeding the $1,000 goal.
‘She’s been always there for us so we just did what we do and we come together and help Kayla out,’ Amanda Lane, her friend of 10 years, said.