Emily Traveller, a bright and active 16-year-old high school cheerleader from Utah, never imagined that a simple double date would upend her entire life.
The outing to the sand dunes, meant for laughs and a few hours of fun, ended in tragedy that left her paralyzed.
“It was just supposed to be a fun evening,” Emily recalled.
“We had food, a fire, and a good time. I didn’t think anything could go wrong.”
The Accident That Changed Everything
After a day of fun, the group started heading home.
Emily, holding items from the day on her lap, forgot to buckle her seatbelt.
That momentary lapse proved catastrophic. Their UTV hit a hill and flipped four times.
Emily collided with the roll cage, breaking her neck and splitting her head open.
Her friends were seriously injured as well, but Emily’s injuries were the most severe.
“I blacked out,” she said. “I don’t remember breaking my neck.
I just remember waking up and feeling completely out of control.
I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breathe properly, and I thought I was dying.”
Emergency Response and Hospital Struggle
Emily was airlifted to Utah Valley Hospital where she underwent surgery.
Her parents, Jon and Kari Traveller, met her at the hospital, facing the horrifying reality of her paralysis.
“Seeing her unable to control her limbs was crushing,” Kari said.
“You want to take it all away from them, but you can’t.”
For ten days, Emily remained in the hospital, fed through a tube and waiting for her condition to stabilize.
Doctors warned her that she would likely never regain function below her neck.
Small Wins, Big Milestones
Recovery was grueling, but Emily’s determination never faltered.
Relearning basic functions like moving her arms, swallowing, and breathing became victories she celebrated daily.
“Lifting my arm an inch felt monumental,” she said.
“Every small achievement gave me the motivation to push forward.”
Her biggest triumph came when she set her sights on a goal she had admired from her hospital window: crossing a bridge near Craig Hospital.
“It wasn’t walking in the traditional sense, but pushing myself across that bridge was huge.
It symbolized everything I had fought for.”
Finding Community Through Social Media
During recovery, Emily turned to social media, documenting her journey and connecting with others facing similar challenges.
“I was nervous to share at first,” she admitted.
“I didn’t want people to judge me, but the love and support I received was incredible.”
Through this online community, Emily built friendships she never expected, learning from others and inspiring them in turn.
Her mother noted that this new circle of support enriched Emily’s life in ways they couldn’t have imagined.
Rediscovering Life and Adventure
At 20, Emily has transformed her story of tragedy into one of resilience.
She now speaks at schools and events, visits children in hospitals, and is co-writing a book with her mom.
She even completed the challenge of Mt. Timpanogos, becoming one of the first quadriplegics to attempt the climb, and returned to skiing, rediscovering the joy she once feared lost.
“The mountain and skiing felt the same,” she said.
“It reminded me that life can still have beauty, even if it looks different than before.”
Support, Love, and Independence
Emily credits her recovery to the unwavering support of her family and friends.
“My parents learned how to help me with everything,” she said.
“My friends never made me feel different.
They jumped in, we laughed, and we figured things out together.”
Her mother added, “Emily has always been independent, so this injury was devastating.
But her attitude and willingness to accept help have been remarkable.”
Living Life on Her Terms
Now, Emily aims to inspire others by sharing her journey and lessons learned.
“I try to do lots of public speaking because I want people to understand you don’t have to be paralyzed to learn the things I’ve learned,” she said.
Her life motto has become simple yet powerful: “Being happy in any circumstance.”
Emily’s story is a testament to resilience, the power of support, and the ability to find purpose and joy, no matter the circumstances.
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