At 15 years old, Corinne was a witty, full-of-life teen who loved to dance and had her entire future ahead of her. But on a winding road in a small, rural Nova Scotia town, Corinne’s life took an unexpected turn.
She and her friends were in a serious car accident that threw those not wearing seatbelts from the vehicle when the driver lost control and hit a tree. Neighbours who lived close to the scene heard the commotion and arrived to help, including an older gentleman who held Corinne’s hand until help arrived.
Corinne’s injuries were extensive. After being rushed to her local hospital, scans revealed a brain injury, a broken pelvis, back, and collarbone, a torn liver and other internal damage, and debris in her eyes. During her transport to the IWK, Corinne had a stroke. Her body was already fighting so much that it was not discovered until the IWK’s neurology team ordered a brain scan.
The stroke left Corinne with paralysis on her right side, loss of peripheral vision (the ability to see things to the side), and aphasia – a condition that stole her ability to speak and understand language. “Part of her brain died,” her mom, Julie, shared. “She had to retrain herself to do everything.”
Corinne spent 71 days in the IWK, and during that time received extensive care at the IWK’s Rehabilitation Centre. Her team developed her rehab program around many of her favourite things – The Barbie Movie, Taylor Swift, and the colour pink.
Thanks to her hard work and the specialized care she received at the IWK, Corinne walked out of the hospital just before her 16th birthday. Her recovery has been nothing short of remarkable. “We’re very lucky to have the IWK in our community,” Julie says. “Cori working with the IWK, together, they’ve been able to make significant improvements in all areas that she’s been impacted so that she can go on to lead a life that’s normal for her.”
Corinne’s now back at school, preparing to graduate, running track and field, and dancing competitively. Corinne continues to push herself and help others through public speaking engagements about being a young stroke survivor and the importance of seatbelt safety.
Her speech still takes effort, but her determination is unshakable. Surrounded by a strong network of family and friends, Corinne continues to exceed every expectation. Determined and optimistic, she’s rewriting her story—one powerful step at a time.
