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PROVO — The students at Timpview High School in Provo united to let a friend know they haven't forgotten her.
"Just to let her know that we are thinking about her even though she is still in Salt Lake," said Holly Lewis, a junior who organized the efforts. "We still love her and we're thinking of her all the time."
Members of the sophomore class decorated the lobby outside the burn unit at University Hospital and brought flowers, balloons, a banner, and a crown to surprise Baylee Hoaldridge, who sustained burns over 65 percent of her body July Fourth in an ATV accident.
Hoaldridge has been in septic shock twice and almost died from infection.
Her friends are doing all they can to help. They campaigned for Hoaldridge to be elected homecoming princess and the student body unanimously concurred.
"Her cousin Maddi crowned her, and I teared up when she said, 'Baylee you are beautiful. Baylee you are the homecoming princess,'" said Sydney Schiess, who also attends Timpview and led the procession up to the burn unit. "That right there let me know that no matter what she looks like now, or no matter what people see her as now because she's burned, she's still beautiful."
Her mother, Nicole, shed tears of joy as she watched friends crown her injured daughter homecoming princess. It's been an emotional journey with many ups and downs. Doctors have covered Baylee with homografts (cadaver tissue), and pig skin, to reduce her risk of infection. She's sedated now while her body heals.
"It just felt like we were on holy ground a little bit with Baylee and her family," said Cassidy Baker, student government adviser. "It felt like an honor to be there, to witness that. I remember thinking as I walked away, 'I'm not going to forget that.'"
The students are learning important life lessons, Baker said, that beauty is more than skin deep and showing up for a friend matters and really makes a difference.
It just felt like we were on holy ground a little bit with Baylee and her family. It felt like an honor to be there, to witness that. I remember thinking as I walked away, 'I'm not going to forget that.'
–Cassidy Baker, student government adviser
"That was one of the most amazing experiences one could ever see," said Schiess. "It was humbling. It opened my eyes. Mostly it showed what multiple people together can do for one person."
Baker said she will count the experience among the sweetest of her 8-year teaching career. "Seeing them grow up and see life's lessons through someone else or serving someone else, if I could teach them anything that would be the one thing I'd want to teach them; more than any other subject." she said. "I was so proud of them. That's the emotion I felt: proud."
The students have also organized a Be Brave Baylee club. They've planned a 5K run to help her family with medical costs. To register visit: www.BeBraveBaylee5k.blogspot.com or RunnerCard.com.
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