Girl hit by roller skater returns home 5 weeks later


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DELTA — When you put a television camera in front of kids, you pretty much know what's going to happen.

Then again, you can't blame 6-year old Tayton Timothy and her 3-year old brother, Hayden for giggling and sticking their faces right up to the lens.

They're happy to finally be back together.

"They're playing, having fun and deciding who wants to watch what on TV," said their mother, Sammi.

Plus, Tayton got to sleep in her own bed Friday night, which is a lot different than the hospital bed she's been sleeping in for the past five weeks.

This past December, a man skating fast and backwards at the Delta roller skating rink slammed into her, causing her to hit her face onto the wooden floor.

The man then fell on top of her.

The accident left Tayton with broken bones, brain damage, and put her into a coma.

"It was scary. Even all the doctors and the therapists, they were all like, they all thought it was going to be the worst," said Tayton's mother.

Doctors at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City kept monitoring her and working with her.

About a week after the crash, Tayton started showing progress.

"Now she's doing great," said Tayton's mother.

She still has some eye damage, but gets to wear a pirate eye patch while her broken orbital bone heals.

Tayton also suffers from some short term memory loss, but doctors think she will make a full recovery.

Tayton Timothy returned home from the hospital five weeks after she was injured in a roller skating accident. (Photo: Mike DeBernardo, KSL-TV)
Tayton Timothy returned home from the hospital five weeks after she was injured in a roller skating accident. (Photo: Mike DeBernardo, KSL-TV)

Starting Monday, Tayton will start catching up on school work she missed while in the hospital.

Then, in about a month, she could be well enough to go back to school.

"It frustrated her for a long time because she wants to run and jump like all the other kids and she can't yet. And she knows she can't, but it's not stopping her from trying," said Sammi with a laugh.

The family also appreciates all the support from the community, friends and even Kanesville Elementary School students in West Haven, who held a fundraiser for her after hearing her story.

The family doesn't even know anyone in West Haven, but as soon as Tayton is well enough, her mother wants to take her to the school to say thank you.

"One little thing like this, a little girl with an accident, can show a big huge positive, when there's so much negative in the world," said Tayton's mother. "And that's awesome."

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