Kiersten Yow is amazing her health care workers as the 12-year-old girl recovers from a shark attack on June 14. The youngster was attacked by a shark off the coast of Oak Island, North Carolina.
Yow underwent a pair of surgeries in the first week after she was admitted to the UNC Children's Hospital. The first of these procedures took place on June 16, followed by the second operation three days later. Each of the surgeries involved removing damaged and dead tissue from the left arm and leg of the girl and changing wrappings.
On June 24, Yow went under the knife once more for her first reconstructive surgery. Tendons on her elbow were reattached in order to provide the greatest possible motion. Additional surgeries planned for the next few weeks will include further work on her damaged elbow, including skin grafts and aftercare of surgical wounds.
The shark removed muscle in her leg, but the bite missed major nerve centers that control functioning of the lower leg. The youngster's leg bones were also spared in the attack. Doctors hope damage to her leg can be repaired through skin grafts alone and that the youngster will be able to walk independently following rehabilitation. It is possible she may even be able to use her legs during exercise, according to health care workers on her case.
On June 25, Yow remained confined to her bed in order for the skin grafts to heal.
"Kiersten continues to amaze her entire care team with her upbeat, can-do attitude, which is truly extraordinary for a girl her age given the trauma she experienced. There's been no, 'Why me?' or sulking, just a dogged determination to reestablish her independence and return to a normal life — and we are proud to play our part in getting her and her family there," UNC Children's Hospital reported with the permission of the patient and her family.
Even as the young girl recovers from her own injuries, the brave youngster is concerned about the well-being of others who are also being injured in the area from the carnivorous sharks.
"We just read about another survivor today. Fifth one this month off NC coast! My heart goes out to these families. They are all in our thoughts and prayers," the Kiersten Yow Support group wrote on their Facebook page.
The best thing to do if you find yourself being attacked by a shark is to swim as quickly as possible to shore.
"People say to swim slowly back to shore, but what is that going to do? Swim to shore as fast as you can — a shark that means to eat you will keep coming. You need to call for help," Larry Cahoon from the University of North Carolina said.
People wishing to send letters of support to the young shark-attack victim may so by sending them to Kiersten Yow Support, P.O. Box 4555, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-4555.
