BY MELANIE BUCK –
A two-vehicle accident occurred on Iron Mountain around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 amid rainy conditions that sent one driver to the hospital with a critical injury. A vehicle driven by 18-year old Natalie Renard, of Mena, rolled over and rested on its top, leaving her temporarily trapped. Renard was airlifted to a Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock where she was diagnosed with a hangman fracture, a dangerous fracture in the C2 area of the spinal cord.
Although surgery was initially expected, family members explained that after several surgeons reviewed the case, they decided to wait six weeks to see if Natalie’s bones will fuse on their own. “The surgery is very invasive and has many risks because of where the fracture is,” said her grandmother in a Facebook post. “After six weeks, if it is not healed they will schedule surgery.”
Natalie was released from the hospital a couple of days following the accident and is now resting.
Family members are thankful for the outpouring of support received. “Please continue to pray healing and recovery for Natalie. We praise God she wasn’t hurt any worse than she was.”
About Author
Jeri Pearson
Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.
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