Trinity J Competitive Dancer

"Trinity has been a true inspiration to everyone around her. Her huge smile and positive attitude has restored faith in her mother and her doctors that miracles do come happen."

After Surviving Being Hit by A Car, Trinity Showed Tremendous Strength and Courage During Her Recovery

Trinity posingTrinity Johnson, a bubbly six year old from Plainfield is so excited for her upcoming ballet recital. She will get to wear the beautiful costume; have her hair done special and maybe even a little make up. This is what little’s girls’ dreams are made of.

Plans for Trinity to join her friends at the dance recital were put on hold as this past winter she was involved in a terrible accident and spent three weeks at PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick. While crossing a busy street, just outside of her mother’s work in downtown Plainfield, Trinity was hit by a car. The driver didn’t stop. In fact, they continued driving and Trinity was dragged a short distance underneath the car.

“It happened so fast,” said Carla Johnson, Trinity’s mother. “I knew from that moment our lives would never be the same and I started praying right then and there.”

Trinity suffered life-threatening injuries including a lacerated spleen and liver, a fractured left leg, and bruises and abrasions on her face and lower body. Doctors claimed her injuries were, “about as bad as any child hit by a car could have.” But this strong little girl persevered.

Trinity with her motherShe was rushed to Bristol Myers Squib Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick where she was admitted to intensive care for three days.

“I thought I lost her,” said Carla, recalling Trinity’s spirits just after the accident. “When I looked into her eyes, it wasn’t Trinity. She lost her spark.”

One night while in the intensive care unit, Trinity asked her mother, “Mom. Why did this have to happen to me?” Her mother’s response was simply, “sometimes bad things happen to good people, without rhyme or reason.”

Lucky, her spleen and liver healed on their own and she did not require surgery. She did however need surgery to repair her badly broken leg and was placed in a full leg cast in hot pink, her favorite color.

Trinity was transferred next door to PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital for intensive inpatient rehabilitation. Trinity’s care was seamless because the hospital is part of the state’s only pediatric health campus comprised of PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital, Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and the Child Health Institute of UMDNJ. This special combination of services creates an unparalleled synergy among the efforts of acute care physicians, rehabilitation experts, and research scientists dedicated exclusively to children’s health care. Only in New Brunswick do children and families have access to acute care, rehabilitation, and research on one campus, enabling children to move seamlessly through their recovery.

Just a few days after being admitted for inpatient rehabilitation, Trinity took a turn for the better. Trinity’s mother credits the great staff and positive atmosphere at PSE&G Children's Specialized Hospital for Trinity’s turnaround - both physically and emotionally.

Trinity with a walker“It’s a good team they have here,” Carla said. “Once she got here, she really blossomed. Now I can see her spark again.”

Trinity’s exceeded everyone’s expectations during her rehabilitation at PSE&G Children's Specialized Hospital.

“She was super fun. Trinity always kept me on my toes with her quick witted personality,” said Erin Mattia, physical therapist, PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital. “She made my job as her primary physical therapist relatively easy. She was so determined and rose to all the challenges we gave her.”

Trinity received intensive physical therapy and occupational therapy several times a day. Trinity also received psychological services to help with the emotional trauma from the accident. Despite her lasting fears related to the event, she was a trooper and a true delight to have around.

“Trinity presented with multiple injuries related to her accident. Our objective was to help her learn how to safely ambulate with her full leg cast at home,” said Dr. Michele Fantasia, pediatric physiatrist and Trinity’s physician. “After her cast is removed, she may need more therapy to strengthen her muscles that weakened while casted.”

Trinity has been a true inspiration to everyone around her. Her huge smile and positive attitude has restored faith in her mother and her doctors that miracles do come happen. While there were many things she missed about home, and school, and dance, she managed to really enjoy her time spent at PSE&G Children's Specialized Hospital.

The Johnson family welcomed Trinity home in early March, just in time to celebrate her seventh birthday. She will not be able to participate in her dance recital because of her injuries, but her entire dance class invited her to attend the recital and get all dressed up in her special costume and pose for pictures with her friends.