The Clemens children have suffered an unspeakable tragedy that no child should ever have to endure. They were all involved in a terrible car crash in Texas that claimed the lives of their parents and baby sister.
Now they are on the road to recover from the physical and emotional damage that has been done.
Angela, 8, Zachary, 5, and Wyatt, 4, were reunited at a Texas hospital during a joint therapy session last week. The kids have been at a Fort Worth hospital since April 7. Nicholas, 2, was hospitalized injuries and released to the care of his aunt.
“It was the first time all three had seen each other since the accident,” Teresa Burrell, a great-aunt to the children, told TODAY. “ It was what they really needed. They just are grieving and were comforting each other.”
A vehicle slammed into the family’s SUV head-on killing Jim and Karisa Clemens and their 2-month-old baby Juliana.
The driver of the other vehicle and her 1-year-old son were severely injured.
Both of Angela’s legs were broken and she suffered severe head trauma that left her in a coma for nearly a week. She has been making slow but steady progress.
“The first thing she asked about was Wyatt. ‘Where’s Wyatt? I want to see Wyatt.’ So we knew she had remembrance of her family,” Burrell said. “It’s really hard with brain damage to know where you’re headed. But we are very hopeful from where we were a couple of weeks ago.”
Wyatt is also recovering. He had several strokes and was paralyzed on his left side but now he can raise his left arm above his head and walk.
“His balance is a little off but, gosh, he’s just amazing. He’s a normal, wiggly 4-year-old,” Burrell said.
He and Angela sat with each other for the first time last week.
“[Angela] just leaned over towards him, looked him in the eyes and said, ‘Wyatt. I need you.’ And he stayed with her for 25 minutes and sat like that with her,” Burrell said. “That was pretty profound because if you know anything about Wyatt, he doesn’t sit anywhere for that long.”
The family still worries about Zachary. He broke his back and had multiple internal injuries. He was the only survivor who stayed conscious during the crash.
The poor child has also suffered from depression and has struggled with eating.
The hospital threw an ice cream party so that all three siblings could be reunited and Zachary could load up on calories.
“They sang silly songs and it was like night and day. He just improved,” Burrell said. “All three of them being together just lifted his spirits. He just cheered up.”
When the children are well enough to be released they will go live with their grandmother Karisa, who hasn’t left their side.
“This is all about miracles. We give it all to miracles. I’ll tell you flat out that’s absolutely what we believe. So many good people, from all different kinds of faiths, have united their prayers on behalf of these children, and we’ve felt it,” Burrell said.
“We felt it as a family and we’ve definitely seen it in these children. We’ve just seen it. It’s just been a miracle and it’s been amazing.”
So far, more almost $345,000 has been raised for the family through Facebook and YouCaring.
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