 Cover Stories The Unsinkable Ashley Berman . . . By Sharon Aller, NWHS Editor Ashley Berman, 8, was bicycling with her mother Rachelle after dinner in a suburb near Boise, Idaho. The carefree moment they shared together was shattered as a car turned the corner and hit them. Debilitated by a separated shoulder, Rachelle watched as the car ran over Ashley and dragged her down the road. In the moments that followed the horrific accident, Rachelle remembers sitting helplessly on the curb as paramedics worked feverishly on her young daughter. “I remember asking God that if Ashley was alive, to take her pain, that she would have no brain injuries or broken bones,” says Rachelle. Ashley’s father, Jay, walked into Ashley’s darkened room early in the morning of July 8, 2002 to kiss his sleeping daughter. ‘She has the face of an angel’ he thought as he left home that morning to board a plane for a business trip in Denver. Hours later, his cell phone rang and a stranger told him that Rachelle and Ashley had been in an accident. He quickly asked about Ben, his son, age 13, who was with a friend and not hurt. The woman reported that Ashley would likely be flown to the burn unit in Salt Lake City. Numbed by the news, Jay took a cab to Denver airport and booked a flight to Salt Lake City. “None of the phones on the plane were working,” he said “I got to the burn unit and had to sit in the waiting room for two hours before they arrived.” Thoughts about the uncertainty of her future tormented his mind. But at the time, he was just thankful that she was alive. In the weeks and months that followed, a story of courage, faith and community began to unfold. Third-degree burns, caused from the heat of the car engine and road rash, covered 22 percent of Ashley’s 48-pound body. The days that followed the accident were filled with excruciating dressing changes as nurses rubbed exposed nerves to fight off infection. Recovery from severe burns is a slow and tedious process for growing children. One month after the accident, with 65 percent of her body now affected, doctors were running out of places to get skin to graft. ‘The Little Light’ “Her upbeat personality didn’t change after the accident,” commented Jay. Ashley’s buoyancy and courage became an inspiration to everyone around her. The only child in the 12-unit burn center, Ashley watched the grown-ups suffer. She drew pictures to comfort some and wrote a note to one: “Sir, I’m sorry you’re in pain. I’m praying for you.” As nurses scrubbed her burned skin, she commented to one “I’m so sorry you have to do this.” Nurses on the floor call Ashley “the little light” says Daynes, one of her nurses. “She’s got an amazing sparkle.” When Ashley was in the hospital, I remember her telling me that God would never give her more than she could handle, reminisces Rachelle. “He must think I’m a pretty strong girl to be able to handle all this.” Ashley commented. Rachelle believes that the main thing that got Ashley through the trauma, surgeries and painful medical procedures, was her faith. When she was preparing for yet one more surgery, a counselor asked her if she was afraid. “No,” Ashley replied. “Jesus is right inside of me and I’m going to be fine.” Her young daughter was the light that helped Rachelle realize “the Lord is my light and salvation; what is there to fear?” Caring community, horses and Equus Addictus carry Ashley through An outpouring of compassion from the entire community helped to carry the Berman family through the weeks and months following their tragedy. Ashley celebrated her ninth birthday in her hospital room packed with stuffed horses and teddy bears. Her first birthday surprise came early in the morning when DJs from KIZN radio in Boise called to wish her happy birthday. Jay showed her a videotape of a chestnut Arabian donated by Nations Arabians. The horse, a 4-year-old, named Skywalker, was the result of a special radio program “What can we do for you?” Jay put out the word that Ashley wanted a ‘horsey’ for her birthday. A long and enduring affair with horses had just begun. Ashley’s kindergarten teacher, Laurie Burnell, leader of Equus Addictus, offered to board Skywalker and introduced the nascent equestrian to the 4-H group. She learned to care for her horse and ride with the group. “The young women in the group have been her greatest supporters,” reports Rachelle. “They always encourage her to do better and love and accept Ashley for who she is, not being judgmental of her looks.” In preparation for her first 4-H competition, it became apparent that the combination of an inexperienced rider and a young, inexperienced horse was a recipe for potential disaster. Once again, the equine community responded with just the right resource for the moment. Cindy Ediger and her daughter Kristen, donated Shi Valley Rose, an older more experienced horse. Shi and Ashley became a great team. She helped Ashley to become a more confident rider. Ashley was able to take the skills she learned from 4-H and Shi to develop a winning rapport with Skywalker. In April, 2003, the dynamic duo took a first and third at Ashley’s first 4-H Fuzzy Show in Boise, Idaho. In August, 2003, just one year after her accident, Ashley and Shi won Reserve High Point in Western Riding at the Idaho State Fair. Ashley’s unsinkable spirit and selflessness have not only been an inspiration to others and carried her to titles with her horse, they have helped to found and develop the Berman-Harviel-Miller Foundation for Recreational Safety. The foundation was created to honor two trauma doctors from Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical and Trauma Center in Boise, Idaho. Dr. Robert L. Miller, long time emergency physician, and Duncan Harviel, trauma surgeon who both met an untimely death. Ashley Berman was chosen as a spokesperson and living example of “Idaho’s ideals of a vigorous, active, sporting and outdoor recreational life-style enhanced by an intelligent regard for the necessity of safe equipment and safe recreational behavior.” Ashley has an unstoppable love for people and horses that has blossomed throughout the past two years. Life took a kindergarten graduate and molded her into a committed equestrian with a passion to help others. Tragic experiences often produce a shy and careful nature. Instead, Ashley has taken life by the reins. She has flourished under the generous support of a caring community and enmeshed herself in a project caring for that same community. In February, Ashley was actively involved at the Idaho Horse Affair in Boise, selling raffle tickets for $5 to benefit Equus Addictus, her 4-H club. “The winner gets to take Trickster home, I get to spoil him,” says Ashley with her arm tenderly wrapped around the horse in a final embrace. “The best thing about horses, is that they love you just the way you are,” comments Ashley. “They don’t care what you look like.” Ashley will soon have surgery to remove implants placed in her forehead and cheek to stretch grafted areas as she continues to grow. However, her temporary look is no deterrent. The ‘unsinkable Ashley Berman’ scurries about cheering her friends on, selling raffle tickets, loving her horse and loving life. The Ride Galloping hard, thrusting the ground, By Ashley Berman, age 10 You Can Help Ashley! Ashley represents the BHM Foundation at public events and school programs, touting the importance of safety helmet use, not only for horseback riding, but also for any recreational activity with potential for injury to the head and nervous system. She helps to pass out educational materials and helmets for children unable to afford the purchase. You can help Ashley by making donations to Berman-Harviel-Miller Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) organization (Tax ID 83-0347551). Call 208.322.1730; write 2312 N Cole Road, Suite B, Boise, ID 83704; email BHM@iep.org. Copyright © 2008 The NW Horse Source |