Texas Tech Alumnus off ventilator after deadly hit-and-run crash in Dallas, making miraculous strides in recovery

LUBBOCK, Texas — The road to recovery continues for 23-year-old Texas Tech Alumnus, Camryn Herriage, after a deadly hit-and-run car crash in Dallas that killed one of her friends and injured five earlier this year.

Tim Herriage, Camryn’s uncle, said the injuries she came in with were as serious as they get.

“At one point, her head was not attached to her body, It was just sitting on top of her spinal column,” Tim said.

Camryn’s skull needing to be reattached to her spine was not the only injury she’s had to work through. Her uncle said she had at least seven strokes.

“Torn ligaments in the neck, damaged carotid arteries on both sides of the neck, brain damage, strokes…I mean, there’s no way to know if you added it all up what the percentage chances were that she would be where she is today, but I can tell you mathematically, it has to be less than 10%,” Tim said.

Tim said Camryn’s recovery has had its ups and downs.

“She had to have a craniotomy where they removed part of her skull. And then the first week of March they ended up having to remove more of it and that was the low point in this journey,” Tim said “That was the same week that before they did that surgery, they were recommending to end care.”

Tim said Camryn has been defying the odds lately. She is breathing on her own, able to move her hands and feet, and recognizes friends who come in.

“From what we understand, she’s able to breathe on her own which shows the brain stems intact. She’s able to control her many bodily functions that are a good indication that recovery is there,” Tim said.

Thousands keep up with Camryn’s story via social media, sending prayers for her to heal each week.

“It’s an amazing testament to the power of prayer and the effects of people being positive versus negative,” Tim said. “It’s been a blessing to the family because my mother and my sister really haven’t been able to leave the hospital, you sit in a room with someone who can’t speak or move and is a shadow of the person you knew, It gets lonely.”

While Camryn still has a long way to go, Tim said things are looking up for her recovery.

“Everything is moving in the right direction. I’d say we were hopeful a month ago, we’re hopefully optimistic as we sit here today,” Tim said. “Our little miracle girl is gonna keep surprising us.”

Tim said the next steps for Camryn would be physical and speech therapy, as she learns to move and talk again. She will also have the tube removed from her throat soon.

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