Jailee’s Journey:
Story of a teenage survivor
May 20, 2020
Jailee Mitchell receives a warm welcome-home from her sister’s dog, Kusco.
Caden Swearingen
and Sheila Harris
On October 17, 2019, a four-wheeler accident near her home left 15-year-old Jailee Mitchell in critical condition. Now, six months later, she is home and healing from the injuries she sustained.
October 17 was a day like any other for Jailee and her mom, Beverly Mitchell. While her dad, John Mitchell, was out of town, Jailee helped her mom finish up chores. After taking the trash out, she hopped on her four-wheeler to ride down the long lane to the road to get the mail.
About 30 minutes had passed when Beverly Mitchell realized Jailee hadn’t come back. After calling and messaging her, with no response, Beverly tried calling her older daughter, Bailee, and her sister, Edith, who both lived in separate houses nearby. Neither of them had seen nor heard from her.
By that time, alarmed, Beverly drove down the lane, then turned onto the road toward her sister’s and daughter’s houses. Halfway between the two places, she discovered Jailee lying face-down in the road, with blood coming from her ears, nose and throat. The four-wheeler was still running nearby.
Beverly immediately called 911. She was advised not to move Jailee from the location where she lay, but to turn her on her side to keep her airway open. Beverly’s nephew met the ambulance at the top of the road so it wouldn’t miss the turn, while her niece made calls to Jailee’s dad and sister.
When the ambulance arrived, paramedics intubated Jailee on site, before whisking her away to a waiting helicopter, where she was airlifted to Mercy, in Springfield.
After spending two days in the pediatric intensive care unit, Jailee’s brain began to swell, and surgery was required to cut a flap in her skull to relieve the pressure. Jailee spent three weeks in the intensive care unit, and was then transferred to a regular room.
As Jailee’s condition improved, doctors advised her parents that Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital in Maryland Heights - a suburb of St. Louis - would offer the best chance for Jailee’s rehabilitation, a process that could take some time. Ranken Jordan provides rehabilitation to children recovering from acute illness or injury - one of only a handful of facilities that do so. However, there was one obstacle. Ranken Jordan required insurance, which Jailee did not have.
John Mitchell had started a new job which required travel shortly before Jailee’s accident, but wisdom dictated that he resign in order to be present for the ordeal Jailee was facing.
So, with the help of hospital personnel, John and Beverly applied for Medicaid for Jailee. The application was approved two days later and Jailee was transferred to Ranken Jordan.
Jailee progressed well during her first month at the rehabiliation facility. She relearned to eat and talk. However, due to several strokes she’d experienced, she was unable to move her left arm.
Later, though, due to narrowing of the ventricles in her skull, fluid began to build up around her brain, creating pressure and causing symptoms which mimicked another stroke. She began losing some of the skills she’d recently relearned. She was rushed to Barnes Jewish Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, where they determined a shunt would need to be inserted to relieve the pressure on her brain.
A surgeon in Springfield performed the required surgery. After the swelling on her brain receded, her skull flap was replaced, and she returned to Ranken Jordan for continued rehabilitation.
Jailee relearned to talk, regained use in her right side, and began eating again.
After much hard work and perseverance, she was able to return home April 17, 2020, almost six long months after her accident. A parade of 30 cars bearing food, gifts and money - and led by a fire truck - navigated her long driveway to welcome her.
With Jailee safely home, Beverly Mitchell reflected on the support given to her family by the community.
“I don’t know where we’d be without those who have helped us,” said Beverly Mitchell. “I’m especially grateful to the doctors and medical personnel who saved her life, but I’m also thankful for the friends, family members and others who have helped us in so many ways.”
“I want to give a special thank you to Bobbi (Sanders) Scucchi for putting together the homecoming parade,” she continued. “A social-distancing parade was a great to celebrate a long overdue homecoming. Although Jailee still needs to see a doctor in Joplin twice a week, the trips are no problem. At least she’s home.”
and Sheila Harris
On October 17, 2019, a four-wheeler accident near her home left 15-year-old Jailee Mitchell in critical condition. Now, six months later, she is home and healing from the injuries she sustained.
October 17 was a day like any other for Jailee and her mom, Beverly Mitchell. While her dad, John Mitchell, was out of town, Jailee helped her mom finish up chores. After taking the trash out, she hopped on her four-wheeler to ride down the long lane to the road to get the mail.
About 30 minutes had passed when Beverly Mitchell realized Jailee hadn’t come back. After calling and messaging her, with no response, Beverly tried calling her older daughter, Bailee, and her sister, Edith, who both lived in separate houses nearby. Neither of them had seen nor heard from her.
By that time, alarmed, Beverly drove down the lane, then turned onto the road toward her sister’s and daughter’s houses. Halfway between the two places, she discovered Jailee lying face-down in the road, with blood coming from her ears, nose and throat. The four-wheeler was still running nearby.
Beverly immediately called 911. She was advised not to move Jailee from the location where she lay, but to turn her on her side to keep her airway open. Beverly’s nephew met the ambulance at the top of the road so it wouldn’t miss the turn, while her niece made calls to Jailee’s dad and sister.
When the ambulance arrived, paramedics intubated Jailee on site, before whisking her away to a waiting helicopter, where she was airlifted to Mercy, in Springfield.
After spending two days in the pediatric intensive care unit, Jailee’s brain began to swell, and surgery was required to cut a flap in her skull to relieve the pressure. Jailee spent three weeks in the intensive care unit, and was then transferred to a regular room.
As Jailee’s condition improved, doctors advised her parents that Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital in Maryland Heights - a suburb of St. Louis - would offer the best chance for Jailee’s rehabilitation, a process that could take some time. Ranken Jordan provides rehabilitation to children recovering from acute illness or injury - one of only a handful of facilities that do so. However, there was one obstacle. Ranken Jordan required insurance, which Jailee did not have.
John Mitchell had started a new job which required travel shortly before Jailee’s accident, but wisdom dictated that he resign in order to be present for the ordeal Jailee was facing.
So, with the help of hospital personnel, John and Beverly applied for Medicaid for Jailee. The application was approved two days later and Jailee was transferred to Ranken Jordan.
Jailee progressed well during her first month at the rehabiliation facility. She relearned to eat and talk. However, due to several strokes she’d experienced, she was unable to move her left arm.
Later, though, due to narrowing of the ventricles in her skull, fluid began to build up around her brain, creating pressure and causing symptoms which mimicked another stroke. She began losing some of the skills she’d recently relearned. She was rushed to Barnes Jewish Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, where they determined a shunt would need to be inserted to relieve the pressure on her brain.
A surgeon in Springfield performed the required surgery. After the swelling on her brain receded, her skull flap was replaced, and she returned to Ranken Jordan for continued rehabilitation.
Jailee relearned to talk, regained use in her right side, and began eating again.
After much hard work and perseverance, she was able to return home April 17, 2020, almost six long months after her accident. A parade of 30 cars bearing food, gifts and money - and led by a fire truck - navigated her long driveway to welcome her.
With Jailee safely home, Beverly Mitchell reflected on the support given to her family by the community.
“I don’t know where we’d be without those who have helped us,” said Beverly Mitchell. “I’m especially grateful to the doctors and medical personnel who saved her life, but I’m also thankful for the friends, family members and others who have helped us in so many ways.”
“I want to give a special thank you to Bobbi (Sanders) Scucchi for putting together the homecoming parade,” she continued. “A social-distancing parade was a great to celebrate a long overdue homecoming. Although Jailee still needs to see a doctor in Joplin twice a week, the trips are no problem. At least she’s home.”
15-year-old Jailee Mitchell, of Washburn, is finally home after a six-month medical odyssey resulting from a 4-wheeler crash.
