Twenty-two-year-old Daniela Archila is many things – a student, a daughter, a sister, a friend. On November 2, 2018, she added another title to that list, one that she never could have anticipated – survivor.
It seemed like the world stopped turning in Tallahassee that evening, when Daniela and five others attended a local yoga class. A sanctuary designed for peace, serenity, and reflection was shattered when one man walked into the studio and opened fire, taking two innocent lives before taking his own.
First responders rushed the majority of the victims to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) during their most critical moments. As they came in one by one, they were received by the highly skilled trauma team in the Tallahassee Memorial Bixler Trauma & Emergency Center – the only Level II Trauma Center in the region. Trained and well-versed in caring for gunshot victims, the team sprang into action to fight for each patient’s life.
When Daniela arrived at the hospital, she had sustained nine gunshot wounds. Despite the trauma she’d just endured, she was alert and in high spirits – making jokes and engaging with medical staff.
“After the EMS arrived, they were giving me an IV and one of the paramedics told me not to look. I was like – do you think a little needle is going to scare me now?” Daniela recalled. “For a long time, I didn’t believe it actually happened, so I made jokes to try to make it easy.”
As a full-time student at Florida State University, studying Child & Family Sciences, and a part-time Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at the Tallahassee Memorial Rehabilitation Center, Daniela’s passion in life is caring for others. Now she was on the receiving end of that care, and that same positive attitude she’d bring to her patients helped carry her through the days and months that followed on her own road to recovery.
Daniela suffered gunshots wounds in her left leg and thigh. Fortunately, her vital organs were left unscathed. The most acute injury she faced was nerve damage in her left foot; she recalls not being able to feel below her knee. The projectiles' shock wave caused a neuropraxia or "temporary nerve injury" of the sciatic nerve.
The morning after the event, the trauma team was glad to report Daniela was in stable condition – she was maintaining steady blood flow and her organs were functioning well – and called upon Narlin Beaty, MD, a neurosurgeon at Tallahassee Neurological Clinic, to perform a thorough examination for nerve damage. He confirmed five entry sites were found, but only four exit wounds existed, meaning one of the bullets was still inside of Daniela.
To give Daniela time to heal before performing additional surgery, Dr. Beaty decided to temporarily leave the remaining bullet in her thigh in place, just under the skin. He removed it several weeks following the incident using a tiny 5mm incision.
“I participated in the care of two of the victims from this incident. In Daniela’s case, one bullet entered and traversed her posterior thigh near her sciatic nerve,” shared Dr. Beaty. “Now, Daniela and I are both very excited that her sciatic nerve is returning to function. She has been working very diligently with her physical therapist and has already seen significant improvement. I’m proud of her.”
Daniela spent the next four days in the hospital, surrounded by her friends and loving parents who rushed to her side when they heard the tragic news, traveling seven hours from South Florida. Once discharged, Daniela returned to her Tallahassee home where her mom stayed with her and her three roommates for a few months following.
“Having roommates helps a lot,” Daniela shared. “We’re all very close and they’ve supported me every step of the way. Plus, we all love having my mom around. I’m so lucky to have all of them.”
Within a week, Daniela began physical therapy at the TMH Outpatient Neuro Rehab Clinic, located at the Tallahassee Memorial Rehabilitation Center (TMRC), where she’d been working just days prior. Currently, she continues treatment twice a week and enjoys being on a schedule, finding that it brings comfort and a sense of normalcy. She feels challenged, but busy and moving forward.
“When Daniela began therapy, she and her mom exhibited the same calm inner-strength and positive attitude – it was evident that the apple had not fallen far from the tree,” remembered Daniela’s physical therapist, Lauren Pelham, PT. “Daniela has progressed from being barely able to move her toes and ankle on her left foot to having regained full strength and range.”
Daniela is now walking with a soft ankle support and a cane as needed. She’s also progressed to working on the treadmill, performing agility and plyometric exercises and is continuing to benefit from the use of the Bioness neuromuscular electrical stimulator to facilitate her reaching her maximal functional recovery.
Lauren continued, “I look forward to our early morning sessions where we come up with new ways to challenge her. We celebrate the small victories and accomplishments that are paving the pathway to her being able to return to her prior level of function and quality of life.”
The feeling is a mutual one.
“I love Lauren,” Daniela beamed. “She encourages me, but she’s also very practical. She tells me what I need to do, gives me all my homework and advocates for me every step of the way.”
Daniela recently returned to work at TMRC as the Unit Secretary, and while she hopes to return to her CNA role within the next few months, she doesn’t want to make the jump until she is fully ready.
“From what everyone’s told me about nerve damage, it takes about a year to fully recover. Because I’m doing so well, they’ve thrown out some more optimistic numbers, like six or eight months, but I still have that year number stuck in my head. I’m a realist and don’t want to rush my recovery,” said Daniela.
She continued, “since the beginning, I’ve taken this journey day by day. It’s such a cliché takeaway, but I feel like, when you’re in a situation like this, you realize life is short. All my life I’ve felt average, but coming out of this has pushed me; I feel more motivated. I’m going to be better, I’m going to do better and I’m going to do more. I’m really trying to make the most of my time, my friends and my energy – I’m trying to live life to the fullest.”
