Meet Striker

Rybecca Rennie, Age 18, from Waynesburg, Ohio

Why Rybecca is an #ACHero: Rybecca was involved in a nearly fatal car accident. In all, she lost consciousness several times, sustained dozens of broken bones, 2 collapsed lungs and a concussion. After multiple surgeries and hundreds of hours of therapy, Rybecca was able to regain her strength and stamina so she could get back to doing what she enjoys most, especially being with her friends and bowling.

Sidekicks: The man who saved Rybecca’s life, Tye Lauener, her friends and family.

When she’s not busy overcoming obstacles: Rybecca loves bowling and is the captain of her high school bowling team. She’s also a hard worker in and outside of school. When she’s not at school or practice, she’s busy working 2 part-time jobs.

Did you know fact: Even after breaking more than 32 bones, including her arms and legs, Rybecca can still throw a 16-pound bowling ball!

Rybecca’s Story: They say in a moment of crisis you find out who your friends are but, for Rybecca, she literally found a new friend in her time of need.

“Tye Lauener saved my life,” said Rybecca Rennie. “I honestly don’t think I’d be here today if he wouldn’t have stopped to help me.”

On Dec. 2, 2017, Rybecca was on her way home from bowling practice. As she made a left turn, she was struck by an oncoming truck. The hit sent her car flying and nearly took her life.

Rybecca blacked out, but regained consciousness to hear the voice of a new friend, Tye Lauener, an off-duty Alliance police officer, who came to her aid.

“I remember him talking to me and asking me for phone numbers so he could call my family,” said Rybecca.

The car’s engine was on top of Rybecca’s legs. Bleeding and trapped in her seat, Rybecca lost her pulse. Tye cut her seatbelt so he could begin CPR and called 911. In the ambulance, Rybecca was losing blood quickly and lost her pulse again.

“I remember seeing a light shining at me and young kids playing…maybe it was heaven. I’m not sure, but it’s a moment I’ll never forget,” said Rybecca.

After a quick assessment at a local hospital, Rybecca was life-flighted to Akron Children’s where ICU doctors stabilized her and assessed her injuries.

Rybecca had more than 32 broken bones, including her legs, ankles, feet, hips, 9 ribs, sternum, right arm, left wrist, back and a collapsed lung.

Going into surgery, doctors determined Rybecca’s other lung had collapsed, too. She would require a chest tube to help her breathe and was put on a ventilator for several days.

Surgeons placed rods in both of her legs and a cast on her left arm. Her right arm was in a splint for about a week when it began to hurt – badly. Another surgery revealed a nerve was twisted through her bone so a plate and screws were inserted to stabilize the bone.

To support her lung function, Rybecca began breathing treatments. She was on complete bed rest while her body worked to heal itself.

On Jan. 8, Dr. Patrick Riley, Sr. took off all of her casts and put her into 2 walking boots so she could start bearing weight on her legs and begin therapy. On the first day with her boots, and after 7 weeks of bed rest, Rybecca got up and started walking!

“I remember [therapist] Jennifer giving me the walker and saying, ‘okay, show me what you can do.’ I took the walker and just started going. I went pretty far…I think I was motivated because I wanted to get back to bowling.”

Rybecca stayed in day rehab for 4 weeks, multiple days a week, to improve her strength and mobility. She worked with nearly every therapist before being discharged.

To celebrate, her therapy team joined Rybecca at a local bowling alley to bowl a few games together.

“It was pretty cool that they all came out to support me like that,” added Rybecca.

Today, Rybecca has follow-up appointments with Dr. Riley Sr. every 3 months and is getting ready to start Kent State Tuscarawas in the fall where she hopes to earn a spot on the bowling team.

“I was completely surprised by the all the support I received while I was at Children’s,” said Rybecca. “A quote I used throughout my recovery was, ‘Don’t limit your challenges. Challenge your limits.’ I never gave up and was lucky to have the right people in my life, at the right time, to get me through.”