April 26 Article in Ole Miss newspaper

http://www.thedmonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/04/26/408cff236e370

Student in coma moves to Atlanta
by Michael NewsomDM Senior Staff Writer
April 26, 2004

A UM student that has been in a coma for more than 20 days as a result of injuries received in an automobile accident April 3.

Jody Tharp, a senior communicative disorders major from Winona, was returning from Greenwood to Oxford on Interstate 55 when she lost control of her vehicle and slid into the ditch near the Water Valley exit.

A person at the scene called the family on Tharp's cell phone to inform them of the accident.

She was airlifted to the Elvis Presley Trauma Center in Memphis, where she has been hospitalized since the day of the accident. Tharp will be admitted to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta for rehabilitation Thursday.

"We've had an amazing outcry of support," said Jennifer Eastland, Tharp's sister. "God has saved her life by having her come as far as she has."

Tharp is awake and can move her toes and fingers, open her eyes, and respond to relatives and visitors, but is considered to be in a coma because of the level of brain activity according to Eastland. Tharp had a craniotomy, which is where a portion of the skull is removed to ease some of the pressure on the brain to promote healing. Eastland said her sister has brain damage, but the extent of it will not be known until she finishes her rehabilitation.

Tharp cannot currently talk but tries to move her arms. She also sleeps most of the time.

Eastland said her sister has responded so well to visitors that the nurses asked the family to let as many visitors come in as possible. They felt like this would help the recovery process.

"She is an energetic, outgoing person, and she has lots of friends," Eastland said. "Everybody just likes her."

Eastland said the Shepherd Center in Atlanta is the best facility in the country for treating injuries such as Tharp's.

"She is just one of the best people to be around," said Jerrica King, Tharp's next door neighbor at Cleark Brook duplexes. "She is one of a kind. A lot of people say that but don't mean it, but she really is."

King is a graduate student from Byhalia.

King has been to visit Tharp and said she is doing well considering the situation.

"She is alive," King said. "She is a miracle."

Student in coma moves to Atlanta
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04/26/2004
I would like to thank everyone for...
Beth Tackett
04/26/2004
Jodie Tharp is a sweet and beautiful...
Leslie Hill
04/26/2004
Where can we send cards and donations...
Will Cook
04/26/2004
I know about your sister through Chad...
Peggy Monti Rutherford
04/26/2004
Thanks so much to everyone for your...
Jennifer Eastland
04/28/2004
Beth and Jennifer, or others: Is...
Pat Brown
04/28/2004
Thank you for this special article on...
samantha
05/01/2004
I was in an accident 3 years ago and...
Frank Findley
05/04/2004
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05/10/2004
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April 6 - Day 3

Saturday, Jodie Tharp, (jennifer's sister) was in a very serious car accident.

She was on her way back to Ole Miss, between Oxford and Batesville, when she lost control of her vehicle. She ran off the road,jerked the wheel too hard to the left, which eventually made the SUV gointo a roll. She did not have on her seat belt, and was thrown around inside the front seat and eventually thrown out the window.

She has abroken shoulder, fractured ribs, her neck isn't broken, but a bone coming off of the neck (i don't know all the medical terms) is fractured. They aren't really concerned with those. What they areconcerned with is her head trauma. She has some brain damage, but they don't really know anything about it yet b/c they don't want to do an EEG until later.

She is in a coma.They are very concerned about the pressure on her brain and that is whatthey are focusing on right now. Tonight (Monday) the pressure was higher than they want it so they may have to remove part of her skull to ease the pressure.

Please pray for Jodie right now. The doctors and nurses say that she needs a miracle right now. They say that they have seen miracles in these cases, and that's what she needs. Also pray for our family, the doctor said to pray for patience b/c this is going to be a long journey.

She is in Memphis at the Elvis Presley Trauma Center, so pray for all of us as we travel back and forth.

Thank you all for your prayers.
Hiram Eastland

Jodie picture before accident