After an equipment failure sent a dragster careening into three girls at the Bartholomew Country Fair near the race track on a summer night in 1999, six years later Anne Ryder follows one of the survivors, Miranda Marple, as her and her family navigate the aftermath of the accident, including the multiple surgeries taken to recover physically.
Writer/Reporter: Anne Ryder
Photography: Matt Wilkening
Editing: Steve Rhodes
[AI-Generated Summary] This broadcast details the remarkable recovery of Miranda Marple, who was gravely injured at age 13 when a dragster crashed at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds. The accident killed her friend and left Miranda with severe brain damage and a destroyed face, requiring six years and 23 surgeries to rebuild her features. Under the care of surgeon Dr. Barry Epley and the support of her single mother, Beth, Miranda underwent extensive physical and speech therapy to regain her ability to walk and talk, eventually reaching a third-grade intellect level. Despite facing a "turbulent" and even suicidal past prior to the accident, the 19-year-old now embraces a spirit of survival and faith as she prepares to graduate high school. Today, she finds purpose in helping preschoolers and hopes to continue volunteering with children, serving as a source of inspiration for others.
Note: This AI-generated summary (via Gemini AI and Adobe Premiere Pro) is for discovery purposes only. Please consult the original recording for historical accuracy.