A Magazine from Akron Children's
It’s a parent’s worst nightmare. You’re away from home, in an area with bad cellphone service. You see multiple missed calls and get a voicemail message that your child has been hit by a car.
That is what happened Aug. 5, 2025, when 12-year-old Claire Millington and a friend were riding their motorized scooters. “We talked about whether to take the longer or shorter way back to her house. We chose the longer one, so we could be together for a few more minutes,” Claire said. “I’d never been that way before, and I didn’t see a car coming as I turned. My friend made it past the car, but I didn’t.”
Claire doesn’t remember getting hit by the car. An ambulance took her to Aultman Hospital Emergency Room in Canton, and then a medical helicopter transported her to Akron Children’s. “God protected her brain from those traumatic memories and from having more serious neurological issues than a small brain bleed,” her mom, Ashley, said. “She wasn’t wearing a helmet when the accident happened, so the damage to her brain could’ve been so much worse.”
Claire was intubated to help with her breathing and taken to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. “She needed surgery to repair the broken bones in her left lower leg, but they couldn’t do that until they were sure she was neurologically stable,” Ashley recalled. “I kept telling her she was in the hospital, but she was OK. I’ve never prayed so hard in my life. I begged her to wake up, and she finally did after about six hours. They assessed her and then wasted no time getting her into the operating room.”
Orthopedic surgeon Patrick Riley Sr. performed the operation. “Claire’s orthopedic injury was a ‘comminuted fracture of her tibia and fibula,’ which means a fracture that has more than two pieces,” he explained. “We fixed the tibial fracture with a 10-hole plate and eight screws.”
As Claire recovered from the brain bleed, she couldn’t have too much stimulation. “That was a rough time, and I was worried for her,” Ashley shared. “She plays softball and basketball, and she’s so active. It was like my bubbly kid was just not in there.”
But Claire turned the corner, recovering faster than her family or care team expected. She went home from the hospital on Aug. 9, her mom’s birthday. Claire moved into the downstairs family room, which included a bed, stocked mini refrigerator and the collection of cards, balloons and stuffed animals from her hospital stay.
“We have a lot of technology and skill in the orthopedic world to fix fractures, but sometimes head injuries are not so fortunate,” Dr. Riley said. “In this case, Claire recovered well from a significant head injury. That is the best part of this story.”
Claire went through months of physical therapy (PT). “We had to start slowly to encourage Claire to bear weight on her injured leg, eventually teaching her to walk again,” said Dan Norman, physical therapist with Akron Children’s Sports Rehabilitation. “One of the biggest hurdles, and rightfully so, was her fear that she would reinjure her leg. This is a battle we often face — and it’s best defeated through constant education and encouragement.”
It was Claire’s first year in middle school, sixth grade. She joined her classmates in September 2025, starting in a wheelchair and then progressing to crutches and a walking boot. She went to school for half-days the first week, easing into her new routine.
“North Canton City Schools were so amazing,” Ashley said. “The superintendent called me to see what we needed. Claire’s math and English Language Arts (ELA) teachers, Mrs. Bourlas and Mrs. Ventosa, provided so much love and support. Claire focused on core classes like ELA and math, catching up on other subjects later.
“She said it was her favorite school year, which is funny because it was the hardest year of her life,” Ashley continued. “But she had really good girls around her — teammates and friends who carried her books and helped her get around.”
Nine months after the first surgery, Claire had a second operation. “Claire healed wonderfully from the first operation, so we removed the plate and screws to let the bone get back to normal,” Dr. Riley shared. “I think it helped a lot that Claire is athletic and has a feisty personality. She knew she wanted to get back to her sports, and this was a big driver for her.”
She was in a boot for four weeks after surgery and then had more PT. Dan continued to focus on helping Claire build leg strength as well as improve motion in her ankle and knee. “An injury can take kids away from their friend groups and steal part of their identity,” he said. “I really enjoy helping patients like Claire through these difficult periods in their lives. It’s priceless to see her resume the sports and activities she loves.”
Claire rejoined her travel softball team in June. “It was fun, cool and weird to be back on the softball field,” she said. “I’ve always loved being a catcher, but I mostly play third base now. We travel an hour or two away from home to play against strong competition.”
When she has downtime from sports, Claire enjoys hanging out with family and friends. She hasn’t been back on a motorized bike or scooter, but if she does resume riding, she will wear a helmet. She hopes other kids will learn from her accident and always wear their safety gear.
Physical therapist Dan Norman works with Claire to stand on one leg while tapping randomly blinking lights. This exercise simulates real-life activities of standing on an uneven surface while focusing attention elsewhere.
Ashley is grateful to God, her family, friends, the Akron Children’s care team, the North Canton community and many others who showed support after Claire’s accident. “I can’t say enough positive things about the care she has received from Akron Children’s; I’ll never forget it,” Ashley said. “It’s been a long road, but Claire has handled it with so much strength and optimism. We’re very blessed and thankful she’s alive.”
From inspiring stories, to medical miracles, the More childhood, please.® magazine will make you appreciate those precious 6,574 days of childhood.
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