Mary Teobo
Sponsor: Eva Hill

Michigan
Katie (Age 17)
Plane Crash

On New Year’s Eve 2006, Katie was flying home from a four-day ski trip with her dad and two friends. Due to mechanical difficulties, the plane that Katie’s father was flying crashed just one mile shy of the airport. Katie’s dad died on impact and Katie was clinging to life; her friends ran to a nearby house to find help.

Katie suffered multiple traumas and broke or fractured nearly every bone in her body. She was treated at Beaumont Children’s Hospital, receiving multiple surgeries on her legs, arms and pelvis. Katie also endured several painful months of physical therapy, but has stayed positive every step of the way.

Today, Katie has made a remarkable recovery and already made it back on her high school tennis team. She even has hopes of someday becoming a doctor, just like her father was.

“Even when life gets rough, you have to dust yourself off and give it another shot,” says Katie. “The most important lesson I learned that will last me a lifetime is that accidents happen, but so do miracles.”