In April 2020, two-year-old Joelle Denise Curry was accidentally shot by her brother and was not expected to survive the night.
Two years later, Curry who turns 5 on Monday continues to defies the odds and mystifies doctors by not only surviving but also by walking.
In recognition of Trauma Awareness Month Thursday, May 26, nurses, doctors and therapists celebrated Curry’s recovery with a small procession at Children’s Hospital of Georgia.
Several team members who helped care for Curry said their favorite things about the girl and expressed their happiness at every new step in her recovery.
“I learned that you can never underestimate what a child can do based on what the scans say or what the medical diagnoses say, there’s a limit to it, of course, but, in her case … she’s just such a fierce little warrior and it just goes to show you that you do your best so that they can do their best,” said Alyssa Bryant, Curry’s lead physical therapist.
Dr. Robyn Hatley, the lead physician, and Bryant crowned Curry as Queen “Toot” before she showcased her walking abilities.
The shooting caused extensive injuries, and Curry has had between 20 and 25 surgeries.
“But look at her now, she talks well, she’s articulate, and I was just a part of that team,” said Hatley.
Hatley attributes Curry’s recovery to the committed trauma care team at the hospital.
“Everyone worked with her … they talked with her, they fed her, they loved this kid, and it’s just something you can’t even put in words. I mean the care that everyone gave this child was just amazing. It was just a total commitment from the whole team, and it was our goal to get her well,” he said.
According to Hatley, a minimum of 50 people were a part of the team that had a hand in Curry’s recovery and claims that there is no better team in the state.
“She had dieticians, nutritionists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, all the nurses, the people that even clean up her room, I mean it was everything,” said Hatley. “She was the princess … we got to a point of ‘she might not survive’ to ‘she is going to survive.’”
Curry’s mother, Stephanie Thomas, expressed that the hospital and care team was extremely accommodating.
“They helped with everything; you name it. I had it. I didn’t miss anything. If it was needed and it had to do with her, I got it,” she said.
Thomas said her journey with her daughter’s recovery has only made her family stronger and made her a better mother.
“It made me wake up and realize what’s important and what’s not. It made me realize that I had to be a better person for myself… during the accident, I was actually suicidal, so it made me realize that I had to be here and that there were three faces that needed me. And so, it made me become the best version of myself that I could be,” she said.
Thomas expressed that Curry’s two older brothers were also heavily affected by the accident and had to go into therapy.
“I feel like it made them stronger also. They had to do a lot of therapy and I actually think we’re coming out of the hurt part of it and coming back to the healing,” she said. “We’re just taking it day by day.”
Thomas voiced advice for other families who might also be going through trauma and hopes that others can learn from her daughter’s unexpected recovery.
“Make sure that your kids believe in themselves, that they can always do things regardless of their injuries or whatever else is going on,” said Thomas.
Doctors expect her to continue her path to recovery.
“She’s got something in her that you just can’t put a name on it. In sports they call it the ‘it’ factor, and she has it and she’s going keep that factor in her,” said Hatley.
Liz Wright is a correspondent for The Augusta Press.
