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Norwalk Mom Helps Her Daughter Fight for Life

Gillian Escourse's teenage daughter has been called "brain dead," but Escourse sees many signs of hope. Teanna's eyes are open, Escourse says, and she reacts to her conversation. "I know Teanna," her mother says. "When you talk to her she likes to roll her eyes, she's doing that."

Teanna, now 17, was walking on Taylor Avenue on New Year's Eve and was hit by a car, which left the scene. She has been in Norwalk Hospital ever since, and her mother is frequently at her side, visiting at least every two hours to make sure Teanna gets turned in the bed.

Escourse says Teanna has come a long way. She has opened her eyes. If you come close to her face she will close her eyes, and she will wiggle her toes.

Escourse says all of these things because she is fighting to get Teanna into the Burke Rehabilitation Facility in White Plains instead of the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain. She says Norwalk Hospital would like to discharge Teanna, and her social worker thinks that the Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc. will not pay for the more expensive Burke.

"That's too far away, that's less therapy for her, she will be just in a bed," Escourse says of the New Britain facility. "Burke has more therapy, that's good for her."

Escourse has reached out to State Sen. Bob Duff and is hoping he can intervene for her.

"Teanna needs intense therapy," Escourse says. "The more therapy Teanna gets, there's a chance that she will wake up. I see that for myself. When you turn her or move her around, she's like wide awake. She opens her eyes wide. So she need that therapy, she need it. And the more therapy you get the more blood you get to the brain."

She was willing to take care of Teanna herself, but it became obvious that she wouldn't be able to spend the time on it. "I just want Teanna to get help, to get better," she said. "She's fighting for it because she's come a long way. And come back home. She don't have to be 100 percent. I don't care. She can be 75 percent, I'll take care of her.

"Teanna never asked to be in this position. Someone, some crazy person, some psycho, maybe drunk, high, stoned, run her over, throw her in a snow bank and leave her there to die."

Have you said a prayer for Teanna? Comment below.

 

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