ST. GEORGE — The child who was transported with severe injuries after getting hit by a pickup truck a little more than a week ago is back home with her family after spending more than six days in a pediatric intensive care unit in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The child, 7-year-old Emery Burrows, was flown to a trauma center in Las Vegas on the night of Sept. 24 after she reportedly chased a soccer ball into the road and was struck by a truck on the 900 block of South Morningside Drive in St. George, as previously reported by St. George News. She was released from the hospital over the weekend.
The child’s aunt, Kate Story, told St. George News that Emery was released from the pediatric intensive care unit on Friday and is “doing amazing.”
After spending two days with her father, Emery’s return to her home on Morningside Drive in St. George was met with a grand celebration and parade on Sunday, as family members, neighbors and friends lined the street to celebrate the child’s homecoming.
The parade was held at 6:30 p.m. on Morningside Drive just north of Heritage Elementary School in St. George. Banners, balloons and posters adorned the street, and festivities were captured on a video provided to St. George News, which can be viewed at the top of this report.
Story said the youngster’s recovery has been “amazing,” particularly in light of the extensive injuries she sustained during the incident. As such, Emery will continue her care and follow up with a neurologist to monitor the healing skull fracture. She also is in physical therapy to improve her ability to walk and will continue follow-up care with the orthopedic team, her aunt said.
While Emery may have a long road of recovery ahead of her, Story said, the family knows she can do it.
She said the family also wanted to thank the community and the people in St. George for their overwhelming outpouring of love and compassion.
For instance, the child’s soccer team became “Team Emery” for their game on Saturday and gave Emery a matching jersey and a soccer ball signed by her teammates. One of the mothers painted a Halloween scene on the front window of their house for the child to enjoy.
When the company who made the “Welcome Home” sign for the parade found out the sign was for Emery, they donated it, Story said, adding that they did an excellent job handcrafting the sign.
In addition, many have sent inspirational messages, as well as food, flowers, gifts and money, along with other means to help raise funds for Emery’s recovery.
The weekend culminated in the cheery welcome home party, Story said, and the purpose behind the festivities was simple.
“A celebration was definitely in order for our little miracle girl,” she said.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.