It sounds something like the opening scene to a classic TV show: six friends out on an evening cruise in the Bahamas, it’stheir last night of a relaxing week long vacation in paradise. The dimming light is making navigation hard, and a lack of lit channel markers makes the situation worse. In an instant, the boat strikes a submerged reef, throwing the passengers in all directions.
For Kellie Kraft, wife of Chris Kraft and matron of the well-known Kraft family who own Kraft Nissan in Tallahassee, this was no TV show – this was terrifying reality.
Kellie was ejected from the boat, and instead of landing in safer deep water like the others, she became tangled in a razor sharp coral reef.
“It was a freak accident,” Kellie says. But it was an accident that changed her life.
Stuck, literally, in the throngs of the coral, embedded with pieces of it all over her body, it was clear that Kellie’s injuries were severe.
Kellie was missing large chunks of soft tissue on her legs; her feet, arm and head were mangled and bleeding severely. Both of her knees were completely exposed; the skin on her kneecaps was gone. The tendon connecting her left knee to her leg was severed.
Without Coast Guard and no emergency number to call in the Bahamas, Kellie and the other passengers were rescued by citizen volunteers of the Hope Town Fire and Rescue Department, part of the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA), against all odds. Stabilized in Marsh Harbor, Kellie and a frantic Chris – who suffered severe injuries of his own, including a lacerated liver, punctured lung, broken shoulder and head injury – waited all night to be transported to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.
“Chris was desperate. He was severely injured himself, but after seeing my legs and how much tissue I’d lost he begged everyone to ignore him and help me,” recalls Kellie.
The next morning, Kellie and Chris were airlifted to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare where physicians were already waiting for her to arrive. An army of trauma surgeons, wound experts and plastic surgeons worked to repair the extensive damage.
“Initially, they weren’t sure if I would keep my legs, particularly my left leg, but they were able to recreate my knee using muscle from my calf,” said Kellie. “They also prevented me from getting any infections, which was one of the most miraculous parts, considering my open wounds were exposed to seawater and given the amount of coral lodged in my body.”
After weeks in the hospital, Kellie was moved to the Tallahassee Memorial Rehabilitation Center (TMRC) to begin working on mobility and healing while still being transported to TMH for skin graph surgeries.
“The communication between the hospital and the rehabilitation center was excellent. Everyone was on the same page, and had the same goal to help me get better. As soon as I arrived at TMRC, they were working to get me mobile – putting me in a wheelchair and building up my upper body strength – with occupational and physical therapy.”
Due to the deep wounds in Kellie’s legs, physicians employed V.A.C. therapy – a type of negative pressure therapy that healed her wounds from the inside out. Kellie had up to four of these devices on her body, working 24/7 to heal and prevent infection. Each of these V.A.C. therapy sites had to be cleaned and redressed every other day, an excruciating process that took over four hours – in addition to Kellie’s already challenging rehabilitation schedule, which included physical and occupational therapy.
Kellie’s injuries severely limited her mobility. Her therapy started with small movements focused on basic mobility to assist her transfers from the hospital bed to a wheelchair. After one month, she was able to stand and pivot to get in and out of bed or a chair. Throughout months of therapy, at TMRC and at home, Kellie continued to progress.
“It wasn’t easy,” Kellie remembers. “I was scared to move in the beginning, there was a lot of pain, but the staff at TMRC were so warm, kind and encouraging. They gave me the drive to stick with it – they’re the reason I’m able to walk today.”
Sheree Porter, MS, CCC-SLP, Rehabilitation Program Manager, not only remembers Kellie’s time at TMRC, but still stays in touch with her today.
“Kellie recovered from her very serious injuries so well thanks to the excellent medical treatment she received along with aggressive physical therapy, occupational therapy and wound care intervention,” said Sheree. “But the most crucial key to her recovery was her determination. Kellie demonstrated the ABC’s of success: she maintained a positive ‘Attitude,’ she ‘Believed’ she was going to heal, and she ‘Committed’ herself to the therapeutic process.”
Kellie left TMRC after two months of in-patient rehabilitation, and several additional surgeries, and began receiving therapy at home. She walks with a cane today, but considering the trauma she’s been through she’s come farther than she thought possible.
“I simply can’t say enough good things about every single person at Tallahassee Memorial who helped me. The physicians, nurses, therapists, technicians, orderlies – even the folks who delivered food and cleaned the rooms – were so professional and compassionate.”
As a well-known resident in a small town, Kellie has occasion to see several of those on the medical team that saved her.
“Sometimes when I run into a physician or nurse at the grocery store, I’ll just go up and say ‘thank you,’” said Kellie. “Every time I drive by TMRC I smile. I became very attached to all the doctors and nurses, I’ll have that bond forever.”
