Myla Gott continues battle to recover from brain injury

Recovery includes expensive care not covered by Medicaid

Betty Buchanan, LNA, is pushing Myla Gott to do more each day to help in her recovery following a car accident in January 2009 that left her with a severe brain injury.Rich Beauchesne/rbeauchesne@seacoastonline.com

NORTH HAMPTON Myla Gott continues to make monumental strides in her recovery from a traumatic brain injury, and the largest milestone came recently courtesy of her brand new motorcycle.

No, it's not a real motorcycle.

"Motorcycle" is the affectionate term Gott, 23, a resident of North Hampton, has given her new walker, which has allowed her to proudly walk independently for the first time since her 2009 car accident.

The walker is even complete with a toy throttle Gott can use to blast the sound of a revving engine as she blows past her nurses and family, much to their delight.

"It's awesome," said Jayne MacLean, an A&C Non-Emergency Medical Transportation company employee who has driven Gott to her treatments and medical appointments on and off for the last four years. "Her smile gives it back to you 100 percent."

Gott suffered a diffuse axonal brain injury during a crash on Interstate 95 in Portsmouth five years ago. After the crash, Gott was confined entirely to a wheelchair, needed to be fed through a tube and couldn't use any of her limbs or her hands.

Now, in addition to walking with a walker, she can sign and spell out words and phrases, walk and balance herself with mild support, and feed herself, among other things.

"I've seen Myla make so many advances," said father Bill Gott, 66. "As small as they are to some, they are tremendous to me."

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Myla Gott continues battle to recover from brain injury