A 24-year-old surf instructor from California is still managing to smile in the wake of a horrific train accident that resulted in her arm being completely torn off before it was successfully reattached after a grueling 10-hour surgery.
Elieah Boyd of Ventura, California says she was riding her 80-pound electric bicycle on July 7 just before 5:30 p.m. when the unthinkable happened.
What happened?
“There was no train horn. It was like three seconds from when I saw the train to when it happened,” she told KTLA. “I just happened to have my hand still on the bike as the train goes by. The train barely clipped the bike, just enough to take my arm completely off.”
Boyd said she looked down after being struck by the Amtrak train and recalled not seeing her arm. She refused to believe what her eyes were seeing.
According to a GoFundMe set up to help pay for future medical expenses — like more scheduled surgeries — Boyd was rushed to the hospital and later transferred to UC Irvine Medical Center, where doctors performed the complex surgery to reattach her arm.
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KTLA reports that a retired firefighter had been walking with Boyd, and it was the firefighter who alerted police and paramedics to look for her arm. Police found the severed arm near the crash site.
“Miraculously, the surgery was successful. Through it all, Elieah has shown incredible strength, keeping her positive spirit and infectious smile,” the GoFundMe states. “Her journey to recovery will be long and challenging, but we know her resilience will carry her through.”
Elieah Boyd enjoying the water on her surfboard.
GoFundMe
How is Boyd feeling now?
KTLA reports that Boyd, who needs at least two more surgeries, now has some feeling back in her arm.
“Kind of like jolts of energy is what it feels like,” she said. “I do have feeling internally that it’s healing.”
And as one might expect from an avid surfer, Boyd can’t wait to get back in the water.
“As soon as I can touch the water, I’ll be on a surfboard,” she told KTLA. “That’s all I dream about here in the hospital. I just want to get back in the water and surf.”
Source:: Life – Fitness – mensjournal
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