Three Years after Accident, Berry Siblings Demonstrate Remarkable Resilience

After their lives were forever changed by unthinkable tragedy, three courageous kids are inspiring everyone they meet. See why

Memorial Hermann logo. (PRNewsFoto/Memorial Hermann)

HOUSTON, Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In observance of National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and TIRR Memorial Hermann are doing their part to raise awareness of spinal cord-related injuries and prevention, as well as provide clinical care, support, and stories of empowerment to some of the 200,000 individuals in the United States who are living with spinal cord injuries.

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, one person in the U.S. becomes paralyzed every 48 seconds. In July 2011, two of those individuals were brothers Peter and Aaron Berry. Their family was traveling home from a summer vacation in Colorado when their vehicle was struck head-on by aSUV that veered into their lane. Tragically, the siblings lost their parents in the accident. Peter and Aaron, who were 9 and 8 years old at the time, sustained serious spinal cord injuries that paralyzed them from the waist down. Miraculously their younger sister, Willa, was mostly unharmed.

After life-saving surgery at a West Texas hospital, Peter and Aaron were transported by Memorial Hermann Life Flight to Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, where they were placed under the care of the pediatric surgery team and closely followed by the trauma nurse practitioners. After weeks of treatment and therapy, they were both discharged in late July and spent the next several months completing in-patient rehabilitation in Chicago and outpatient rehabilitation at TIRR Memorial Hermann Kirby Glen.

Now, nearly three years later, the siblings are thriving. In March they returned to Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital to visit their old nurses and caretakers, most of whom they hadn't seen since being discharged from the hospital. They talked about everything from their basketball team (the TIRR Hotwheels, TIRR Memorial Hermann's junior wheelchair basketball team, who happen to be the 2013 national champions) to their favorite breakfast food (French toast) to girls at school (mum's the word).

"It's weird being back here everything looks the same," Peter, now 12, explained. Both he and Aaron wanted to see the room where they'd played video games, and they recalled watching movies, eating popsicles, and the times they'd gotten bored. Willa stood between them and listened as the nurses re-lived their memories with the boys.

"They're truly remarkable kids," said their aunt, Simone Berry, who accompanied them on the visit. The siblings now live with Simone, whom they affectionately call, "Aunt Simmy," their uncle Matt, and their two cousins. "It's a full house, but we're all doing great and are very happy."

The siblings are cheerful, polite and personable beyond their years. They spoke passionately about their hobbies, school, and of taking care of one another.

"They should be so proud of themselves," said their social worker, Kristen Soudelier, LMSW, who was also present for the reunion. "They've had to overcome so many obstacles both physically and emotionally it's really impressive and inspiring."

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Three Years after Accident, Berry Siblings Demonstrate Remarkable Resilience