Miracle in Stones River on The Murfreesboro Post

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By: LISA MARCHESONI, Post Contributor

Posted: Sunday, April 4, 2010 12:00 am

Emergency workers pull Alisha Nance and her car Friday from Stones River off Barfield Road.

Mother Angie Sterry cries constantly watching daughter Alisha Nance struggle to heal from a crash when her car flipped over Feb. 5 into the icy Stones River off Barfield Road.

Nance, 18, a Riverdale High School senior, has battled medical problems related to the crash since being hospitalized at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville and now at Shepherd Center, a spinal cord injury rehabilitation and brain injury facility in Atlanta.

Family friend Janice McGoldrick said she spent time with the mother and daughter at Shepherd last week.

"It's been very heart-wrenching" watching Sterry because "there's nothing she can do to help her," McGoldrick said. "Watching Alisha and the pain she's in is just devastating to me."

Because of Nance's medical problems, she will be sent home April 19 to recuperate for roughly six to eight months and then travel back to Shepherd for rehabilitation.

Already facing mounting medical bills, Angie Sterry and her husband, Michael, must renovate their Faldo Drive garage in the Southridge subdivision so Alisha will have a comfortable, one-level place to recuperate. McGoldrick said the Sterrys are concerned about finances and the amount they will have to pay in insurance deductibles.

They've enlisted the help of the community to help their daughter.

Michael Sterry, who works at All-Time Pest Control, said he’s received contributions from customers. He’s sought support from businesses.

“We just don’t have the finances to provide a handicapped room for Alisha,” Sterry said.

A friend measured the room for needed supplies and design. Sterry hopes to start construction this week.

They need lumber, flooring, electrical work, blocks and people to do some of the labor. She will probably need a lift and hospital bed.

McGoldrick said Steve Arnold and David Johnson with Skill Construction will custom build a shed for the Sterrys to house their garage items.

Sterry said Bradley Plumbing agreed to donate labor for the bathroom and Ferguson Plumbing will donate the materials. Sterry’s employer, Tim Holder of All Time Pest Control, provided tile for the bathroom and hired workers.

People who want to help may call Sterry at 664-****.

Also, people may contribute to the Alisha Nance account at any Pinnacle Bank branch or support a yard sale from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 10 at Riverdale High School.

Sterry said Paddock Club apartments provided an apartment in Atlanta for the family while Nance stays at Shepherd.

“The community has been so supporting,” Sterry said. “We have been so blessed.”

Sterry believes prayers have kept Nance alive.

“She’s our little miracle,” Sterry said.

He thanked all the heroes who helped rescue her from the river and the people who have helped the family.

“Everyday, I’m overwhelmed by care and concern,” Sterry said.

The family thanked everyone who has supported them and asked for continued prayers.

“I don’t know how we will pay these people forward,” Sterry said.

Tagged under Alisha Nance

Member Opinions:

By: acdsrool on 4/4/10
Lisa, the number to call is not listed. Can you please provide it?

By: canalou on 4/6/10
Lisa, awesome account...and you're my "hero"

By: mhm2a on 4/6/10
I am going to provide the block they need to finish out the garage and if anyone else wants to donate anything they need or if you dont know what is needed then please let me know.