Redding teen released from hospital months after serious car accident

<p>Janelle Pompea, 16, was released from Gaylord Hospital Thursday morning after the&nbsp;April&nbsp;accident that also hurt five other teens. The crash&nbsp;fractured her spinal cord and broke her leg.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Jun 22, 2017, 6:43 PM

Updated 2,669 days ago

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Redding teen released from hospital months after serious car accident
A Redding teenager has been released from the hospital months after a serious car crash and says she feels fortunate to be alive.
Janelle Pompea, 16, completed her inpatient care at Gaylord Hospital Thursday morning after the April accident that also hurt five other teens. The crash fractured her spinal cord, broke her femur and gave her third-degree burns on her legs and arm.
Over her 49 days in the hospital, Pompea had to utilize her feet for functions like holding electronic devices or putting on pants because she had no control of her arms.
Though she can’t remember the accident, Pompea, a junior at Joel Barlow High School, says she’s thankful for support from her friends, her family and hospital staff over her time recovering.
“I just didn't think about anything to be upset about because like there could've been much worse things,” says Pompea. “I could've been dead.”
Pompea will now receive outpatient therapy and says she’s focused on returning to school as a senior in the fall.