For Love: Georgia Kate’s Remarkable Recovery

𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐝

The date of the accident was July 7, 2023. It happened at 6:30 PM. This marks the time from “before.” Before, when everyday life was pretty manageable. Before, when all three children were doing just fine—in fact better than fine. A time when a ride on the family’s ATV was just another routine occurrence on their farm.

At 6:30 PM there was “after.” After Georgia Kate’s accident. After a child was shattered and physically damaged in far too many places. After a family, stunned and in shock, tried to pick up the pieces and learn a whole new language. A language of medical prognosis that no parent ever wants to hear. A language of hurt. But ultimately a language of hope and, finally, a language of healing. 

Young Georgia Kate was not expected to survive. But here she is, making remarkable progress, albeit with many stops and starts, a progress that many medical personnel have made happen through their intense dedication to one little girl.

Ask her mom and she will agree and add, “Only God,” because only God could work such a miracle.

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬

Georgia Kate’s mother Melanie Anderson says, “When she first came into the emergency room, they didn't think she was going to make it because the damage sustained was far worse than what they expected. Even the first responders, who we met up on the side of the road so they could get her to the hospital quicker, didn't think she would make it.”

But then the family was encouraged in the emergency room after Georgia Kate threw up blood on a triage nurse, “and they said that was a good sign but that was all the hope they could give us at the time.”

After three days in the hospital they put Georgia Kate in a medically induced coma to give her body a chance to survive the grievous injuries she had sustained.

“They still didn't have very good things to say except we had made it past the 72-hour mark and then we had another 72 hours to make it past, which we did,” says Melanie.

But a few days later the family was told Georgia Kate, “would be pretty much just like she is laying in the bed. She would never go to school. Never graduate. Never really function at all except for being in a vegetative state.”

They were devastated.

Original Prognosis/Diagnosis

A partial list of her initial injuries and some ensuing complications:

1.         Right temporal bone fracture

2.         bleeding in the brain

3.         multiple facial fractures

4.         central diabetes insipidus due to traumatic event

5.         encephalopathy (traumatic)

6.         electrolyte low sodium disorder

7.         brain disorder

8.         infection caused by Enterobacter cloacae

9.         panhypopituitarism due to trauma.

Nothing felt survivable. This did not feel like it was ever going to be okay. It all felt terrible.

𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬

But Georgia Kate fought back. With both medical experts and prayer warriors on her side, she has slowly but surely made her prognosis survivable. Her mom says her medical progress “has been an ‘only God’ and God placing some of the absolute best medical staff in Georgia Kate’s path. Not just her current doctors but from the very beginning.”

Melanie says from the amazing team of first responders, sheriff’s deputies and EMTs to the nurses, doctors and child life specialists at Memorial Children’s hospital in Savannah, “we have had some of the best care that truly saved my daughter’s life. And they were invested in her too.”

The medical personnel included Melanie’s parents in those lifesaving medical decisions, which the family says is truly a blessing.

Melanie often shares Georgia Kate’s progress on her Facebook page. Recently she posted photos of a happy smiling Georgia Kate goofing around and making silly faces. She commented, ““She is still Georgia Kate! The accident didn't change this part of her and she is still so full of life! This did my momma's heart good. God showed me tonight that she is still there and that it’s all in His timing—that in four months He has moved mountains and made impossible things happen. It felt so good to see her as her!”

After all she has been through, Georgia Kate’s spirit still shines through.

Of course, they still have many medical issues to confront, because being out of the woods isn't the same as being all better. She has medical traumas still to be resolved, including issues with her pituitary gland and diabetes insipidus (due to a traumatic event), which is different from other diabetic conditions. And although Georgia Kate is recovering at home, they need to travel out of town weekly for therapy and they go to Atlanta at least twice a month for medical appointments.

Recently they have been coping with a situation involving a leakage from Georgia Kate’s ear. After seeing an ENT doctor, they learned that the ear they thought was completely deaf can eventually be corrected.

“After the brain surgery Georgia Kate will have the little bones in her ear connected back with titanium tubes which will give her better hearing and it won't be muffled,” says Melanie.

She adds, “My prayer for Georgia Kate, and calling all prayer warriors, is that we shocked the doctors and nurses in Savannah and showed them how Big God is and now I want to show Atlanta how BIG God is! When we go to Atlanta in January, I want them to do the CT scan and find the leak completely healed up and no surgery!”

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠

“Our community has been truly amazing. We would not be here today without everybody’s prayers and support—even surrounding counties have stepped up and go above and beyond to love us and support Georgia Kate,” says Melanie.

For example, on November 28, “Bouncing Back Georgia Kate” night was held at Southeast Bulloch Middle School.

“I loved playing basketball in high school and had one of the best coaches around.” Says Melanie, “For my alma mater to do this for our daughter, and for her school to step up with such love and support means so much to us.”

She said, “A big special thank you to Coach Raymond for doing this for her! She has always loved talking with him in school and about basketball.”

Many people have asked about financial donations for Georgia Kate and the family accepts donations gratefully as expenses continue to mount every day. There is an account for Georgia Kate at Citizens Bank for the South. You can make a deposit in person or mail it to: Citizens Bank for the South, PO Box 120, Statesboro, GA 30458. There is also have a Venmo account: @Melanie-Anderson-62

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭

Prayer is a huge component in Georgia Kate’s recovery. Her family asks for others to show their support by praying, too.

“Please pray for Georgia Kate—that she continues to heal—and pray we have the discernment on what steps to do, what doctors to see, or if we need to travel to see a specialist, and for me to be the best advocate for her and mom to the other girls,” says Melanie.

When asked how the accident and Georgia Kate’s recovery has affected them as a family, she answered, “It pretty much turned our world upside down because we have a fifteen-year-old and a five-year-old, and they have had to stay with family members and friends. But it’s all in His hands, his timing. God definitely is working on me and showing me to trust Him, be patient and let Him continue to keep showing me just how big He is.” 

Every email she sends signs off with, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.”– Jeremiah 29:11.

She says, “Please don't stop praying! We have only gotten this far because of y’all’s prayers, love and support. God has shown us the power of prayer. Thank you all for everything. Only God!”