A car wreck left her paralyzed. She was moved to tears by her Tri-City homecoming
There were tears, hugs and a big welcome home for
The first to greet Danika when she rolled through the gate doors in her wheelchair was her grandfather
Her grandmother
The three grandparents had not seen her since she was home from
Joining her family at the airport were dozens of friends and the
"It's crazy," Danika said of the welcoming. "I did not expect this. My dad said it was just going to be family. He didn't want me to be too overwhelmed. I love seeing all my family and friends. I love this environment, and the cooler weather."
The 2016 graduate was in a serious car accident about six weeks ago that left her a paraplegic.
But the smile on her face was one she's had through several surgeries and weeks of painful physical therapy.
"She's only cried for 15 seconds about not being able to walk again," said her dad
Danika, 20, was accompanied home -- which entailed two flights -- by family friend
"It was quite an adventure," Meginnis said. "We learned new things. We didn't know what to expect."
The road to recovery
Danika's life changed
She was asleep in an SUV when its driver, Rametrius Walker, lost control and rolled it about 40 miles outside of
Danika was thrown from the car, and had several broken bones and more.
After spending 11 days at
Before she left Wednesday, she received a certificate of achievement at Cobalt for Outstanding Effort and Graduation for Inpatient Rehab.
She also left the staff in tears.
"I am feeling so much better," Danika said. "I still have a lot of pain, but the pain keeps getting better. Today I sat up for 12 hours. Before my best was 6 1/2."
She also has been able to ditch the neck brace she's had since Day 1.
"I feel like I can breathe better," she said. "It limited my range of motion."
While Cobalt staff recommended 30 more days of inpatient rehab, the insurance company denied the request, despite documentation from Danika's doctors and therapists.
Appeals went nowhere. Danika will continue outpatient therapy at
"We will continue our goal for maximum recovery and independence,"
But that doesn't mean he is giving up when it comes to standard care for those in need.
"My new ambition as an advocate is in the very early stages, and I plan to further educate myself to make a difference," he wrote.
It takes a village
Not long after Danika's friends
While the Whitsett family home is being renovated with a ramp and an
"I have good people," he said.
When
Several of the players mowed and weeded Dan's lawn while he was gone for more than a month.
"The whole team took care of my dad," Danika said. "I appreciate that."
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UPDATE: Name of motorcyclist killed on Route 30 released
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