Merritt Island Miracle: Teen opens eyes days after lightning stops heart, mother says
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It was the type of phone call that any mother would dread.
Christina Spencer was at work Friday, about 35 minutes away when she learned that her 14-year-old daughter Lori Leer and two friends, Kenzie McCord and Ava Wiedmann, had been struck by lightning. The three had been rushed to a hospital minutes after the telltale flash of light left them lying facedown near a Merritt Island cul-de-sac.
"I don't remember much, I just jumped in my car and drove.'" Spencer told FLORIDA TODAY. "I was in shock. It was just the worst drive of my life but I had to get to the hospital. I was just praying...on the way."
By Monday, that dread was replaced with the miracle the mother of three was hoping for.
Lying in bed at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Lori opened her eyes for the first time since arriving. She also blinked on command, her mother reported.
"We aren't out of the woods, but she is in there fighting her (butt) off," Spencer texted.
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Lori had been heavily sedated to allow her body to heal from the jolt of electricity. A GoFund Me page was set up by a family friend to help cover medical expenses for Lori's treatment. It has raised $8,857 of a $25,000 goal as of Tuesday afternoon.
Her family, including her 3-year-old brother James, who Lori calls 'Squishy,' and her 16-year-old brother Ryan, are rallying for her recovery.
"The outpouring from the community has been amazing," said James Spencer, Lori's stepfather.
The incident happened just after 3 p.m. Friday as the three friends were walking near a cul-de-sc in the 1400 block of Salerno Court.
The afternoon storms typical of Florida's summer weather were beginning to form. In Florida, lightning can be deadly, injuring dozens each year, the National Weather Service in Melbourne reports.
More: National Weather Service changes zones in Brevard resulting in more detailed forecasts, warnings
More: Two Merritt Island girls hospitalized after incident involving lightning strike
Lightning struck a nearby palm tree and neighbors spotted all three girls lying facedown. Lori, who just graduated from eighth grade at Jefferson Middle School, was unresponsive and not breathing.
"Her heart had stopped. We don't know how long she was without oxygen," her mother said.
Her friend, 12-year-old Kenzie McCord — who had burns across her neck and a spinal injury — was transported to Health First's Cape Canaveral Hospital and later to Arnold Palmer. A GoFund Me has also been set up for Kenzie. As of Tuesday afternoon, $4,075 of the $10,000 asked for has been raised. Kenzie was back home resting on Tuesday, family members reported.
"Kenzie is in stable condition with a fractured spine, fractured ribs, burns across her neck and back and muscle spasms," her sister wrote on GoFund Me. Kenzie will have to do physical therapy, see a neurologist and have multiple follow-up visits, her family said.
"She also has nerve damage," her sister wrote. "Hopefully time and therapy will eventually heal but no one really knows."
Spencer praised the friend who she said saved her daughter's life.
Ava, who has been homeschooled since the pandemic, recovered and helped to revive Lori. "She saved my daughter's life," Spencer said.
Ava remembers waking up and seeing her two friends on the ground, her father recalled. Ava then gave Lori CPR. "She's 14, so I'm just super proud of her. She just jumped right in without any panic," said John Wiedmann of Merritt Island.
"They're pretty good friends. I'm just overwhelmed as a parent," he said.
Spencer remained hopeful that her daughter would make a full recovery.
"She is an amazing, wonderful kid. Her 3-year-old brother looks at her like she's a second mother. She gets good grades, everything." Spencer said.
"She's my best friend."
"J.D. Gallop is a Criminal Justice/Breaking News Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @JDGallop.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Mother says daughter struck by lightning on Merritt Island opens eyes
