A young woman has shared how she has survived an unimaginable crash that tore her body apart.
Layla Jane Rogan was just 15 years old when she lost control of her ATV and accidentally struck a parked car.
The devastating accident happened on May 22, 2022.
Layla – who going 50 miles per hour at the time – was left unconscious at the scene of the accident.
A passerby stopped to help the unconscious teen until paramedics arrived and took over.
Layla was then airlifted to St Mary’s hospital in Florida.
She’s undergone countless surgeries, including treatment for a traumatic brain injury, since the accident occurred.
The young girl’s mother, Alison Rogan, says the treatment has changed her daughter’s personality.
Layla, who is now 17 and attends school in West Palm Beach, Florida, told The U.S. Sun: “I don’t remember anything about the accident itself.
“Honestly, I don’t remember the majority of my time in the hospital either.
“And from what I have seen and heard, it’s a good thing I don’t.
“It’s hard to believe that was really me.
“I was lucky to have my parents at my side for the whole process.”
Her mother, Allison, said she was horrified when she received the call every parent dreads – her child was in an accident.
Allison, 45, rushed to the hospital, where she was told by doctors that her daughter was unlikely to survive.
“Me and my husband got there to [see] our daughter on life support,” said Allison.
“After arriving, we were told she likely wouldn’t survive 72 hours.
“They installed a monitor in her head to watch cranial pressure and brain swelling.”
Layla’s injuries included over 10 brain bleeds, damage to her brain stem, brain shearing, a dissected carotid artery, liver lacerations, internal bleeding, and a broken jaw.
Despite the odds, the teenager survived. However, she was unconscious, with a long, perilous road to recovery.
In the weeks following the crash, Layla suffered neurostorming – a hyperactive response of the sympathetic nervous system, meaning her body couldn’t regulate its own temperature, heart rate, or blood pressure.
Doctors also performed a tracheotomy and were forced to wire her jaw shut, because she wasn’t breathing on her own.
The procedure is a safer alternative than being intubated when a patient’s outcome looks permanent.
Alison said: “Even though she was still labelled unconscious, a couple days after the accident, she started moving her left side fingers and toes when asked.
“Not consistently but occasionally.”
Around three weeks later, Layla woke up from her coma.
Alison added: “It’s not really like you picture it.
“Layla waking up only meant she could perform some tasks on command and tolerate longer therapies, but she still seemed lost inside.
“She was unable to speak or walk at this point or move the right side of her body.
“Her eyes started tracking us around; she would follow me, my husband, and our younger daughter around the room.
“It’s strange missing a person who’s alive.”
She continued: “Before the accident, Layla was a high-level athlete and extremely intelligent kid, and now she was miles from the girl we remembered.
“There was a day where she didn’t even know who her dad was.
“She was literally a different person in my daughter’s body.
“It was overwhelming and scary, and a lot of tears were shed.”
Layla soon regained movement in her legs and was able to walk with a gait belt and assistance.
On June 28, her jaw was unwired and she spoke for the first time.
She was discharged 11 days later.
Layla was out of the woods, but the struggle was far from over.
“She didn’t require a wheelchair as doctors had anticipated, which was great,” her mother recalled.
“Mentally, she was slower and her memory was still pretty impaired.
“She also tired easily.
“But Layla returned to school a few months later and even did cheerleading, though with a lot of restrictions,” she added.
Alison believes the experience has made her family appreciate things a lot more.
She said: “We all knew we had witnessed a miracle and it was amazing to be a part of that.
“We still have various therapies and restrictions we have to manage, but it’s not as difficult as it was.
“For the most part, my daughter leads a normal life today.
“Layla is different than before but we have all grown to love our new world.”
In the aftermath of the accident, Layla gets frustrated with some of the challenges she has. However, she always powers through and is hopeful for her future.
“I never liked people telling me I can’t do something,” she said.
“I have to work harder now, but I like a challenge.
“I am grateful for being alive but sometimes I miss the way living was for me before.
“I do have a new perspective on life though and I’ve been told I’m a lot nicer!” she said.
Dr. Sarah Adams is a scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to all. Her articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
