A latest Miles School summa cum laude graduate was flown again to the U.S. Wednesday after she was critically injured whereas on a celebratory Carnival Cruise along with her longtime finest pal.
On Monday, the primary day of her trip, 22-year-old Hannah Smith fell off a ship whereas on a day tour with fellow cruise passengers throughout a cease within the Bahamas.
She was rushed to Docs Hospital in Nassau, the place she underwent two surgical procedures.
Earlier in the present day, she was airlifted to an undisclosed Stage 1 trauma middle within the U.S.
“She’s still critical,” stated her mom, Tracy.
“It’s going to be a very lengthy recovery and it’s definitely going to entail a lot of physical therapy. And it’s going to be long term.”
Requested if medical doctors had offered a prognosis for Hannah, Tracy stated, “Most of the doctors are telling us because she’s critically ill, they can’t tell us one way or another.”
The Smith household lives in Tennessee.
Hannah, an artist, graduated from Miles School on Could 3 with a level in communications, and a concentrate on graphic design.
She and finest pal, Brooklyn Pitre, deliberate the cruise to mark their accomplishments.
Brooklyn simply graduated from a Florida school.
“They’d both been working really hard, and they graduated,” Tracy stated.
Hannah Smith, a 22-year-old Tennessee lady who graduated from Miles School on Could 3, was critically injured when she fell from an tour boat whereas on a celebratory cruise along with her finest pal.(Pictures courtesy of the Smith household)
Whereas on their first tour on Monday, Hannah fell off a ship – not the cruise ship. Although she fell into the water, she struck one thing on the way in which down.
“There were some passengers with her on the boat that helped her,” Tracy stated. “They helped save her life.”
Tracy discovered of the accident when Brooklyn texted her from Hannah’s telephone, and Tracy realized she’d had a missed name.
“I was with my oldest daughter. She heard the tone in my voice,” Tracy stated.
“She said my face dropped, and she felt like there was a whole change in the room and she knew something was wrong.”
Tracy couldn’t get a flight to the Bahamas Monday evening, however booked the primary one obtainable, which was at 6 a.m. Tuesday.
“You don’t sleep, you don’t eat,” Tracy stated. “You pray, and all you want to do is see your baby.”
When Tracy and her oldest daughter, Abigail, arrived in Nassau, they have been capable of see Hannah instantly.
“At that point, she was sedated, and she required a lot of blood,” Tracy stated.
“It was less about her injuries and more about saving her life.”
“They did inform me that when she arrived at the hospital, she was in shock due to the heavy blood loss,” Tracy stated.
Hannah’s blood kind is O-negative, which is uncommon.
A blood drive was held within the Bahamas to assist get Hannah the blood she wanted.
Tracy didn’t wish to element Hannah’s accidents however stated there are a number of. “That’s why we’re at a trauma center,” she stated.
“They were able to get her the blood she needs and save her life and get her stable enough to get her back to the states,” Tracy stated.
“They’re working to continue to save her life and repair some of the damage.”
Hannah’s sedation was briefly lowered Tuesday, and she or he opened her eyes. The nurse advised Hannah that her mom was there.
“She saw us and nodded her head, recognized us,” Tracy stated via tears. “I was just so thankful, so very thankful that she knew she wasn’t by herself.”
Hannah stays sedated. Her household is along with her on the hospital, as is Brooklyn.
“She won’t be alone,” Tracy stated. “She’s going to have an army behind her.”
Tracy stated she and the household are overwhelmed by the help they’ve obtained.
“So many people have offered any sort of help, even if it’s praying for us which, honestly, has been the biggest help,” she stated.
“I had a post where I asked people to pray, and let those prayers number the stars in the sky and they are helping us,” Tracy stated. “I know they are.”
“What works in her favor is Hannah is strong, she’s led a pretty healthy lifestyle with her eating, her working out, her taking care of her body, her diet, and her outlook on life. And her spirituality,” she stated.
Hannah Smith, a 22-year-old Tennessee lady who graduated from Miles School on Could 3, was critically injured when she fell from an tour boat whereas on a celebratory cruise along with her finest pal.(Pictures courtesy of the Smith household)
Hannah was very concerned at Miles School.
Miles School posted this on Fb:
“Sending our deepest prayers and support to recent graduate Hannah Smith, Summa Cum Laude Class of 2025, who is currently in critical condition in Nassau, Bahamas. Hannah exemplifies the Golden Standard, and we are believing in her full recovery. We ask our Miles family and extended community to keep her lifted in prayer and to support however you can.”
Other than her college and artwork, Tracy stated, Hannah’s sorority – Delta Sigma Theta – is likely one of the most essential issues to her.
Sorority sisters from throughout have reached out to the Smith household, and members from the Bahamas chapter confirmed up on the Nassau hospital to go to the household.
“She’s going to appreciate that,” Tracy stated.
“That type of support from her sisters is going to mean so much to her and it did to our family. They showed up and showed out.”
“It’s been a windfall of people whose lives she has touched that have reached out,” she stated. “She just brings joy to people.”
Tracy can be grateful for Brooklyn, who is clearly shaken over the ordeal.
“She was alone in another country with her friend,” she stated, “and she held it down.”
“I have to credit (Brooklyn) for holding her composure enough to be our eyes and ears until we got there,” Tracy stated. “I let her know she went through something too, and she can let go now, because we got her too.”
A GoFundMe has been began to assist with Hannah’s prolonged restoration. Donations could be made right here.
One other sister, Rachel, posted this about Hannah on the fundraising web site:
“Hannah is light. Hannah is love. Hannah is absolutely her,” Rachel wrote.
“Our little sister is nothing short of a headache, but we wouldn’t want her any other way. She is literally the strongest of us all.”
“We’re praying you continue to be the strongest and fight for your life, your dreams and aspirations,” she wrote.
“This boating accident will not define your life. We need you to have many more birthdays, more holidays, more life experiences. We love you endlessly.”
