Calgary family seeking support as teen recovers from hit-and-run
Posted Feb 23, 2024 1:18 pm.
A 16-year-old Calgarian is now facing years of physical rehabilitation after being hit by a vehicle on Jan. 28, leaving her fighting for her life in hospital.
Finally out of the hospital, her family is now providing 24/7 care, which is putting them in financial distress.
Keira Barriskill is a social, bright, and loving Grade 11 student, who’s life was turned upside down when she became the victim of a hit-and-run last month in the northeast community of Pineridge.
The investigation is ongoing, but her mother, Stephanie Sackmann, says she was at a sleepover at a neighbour’s house when she was hit, sending shockwaves throughout her family.
“I never would have thought, you know you hear stories on the news, of things like this happening, I never in my lifetime would’ve thought it would have happened to us. It just doesn’t seem real, so it’s been very difficult to handle,” she said.
RELATED: Teenager seriously hurt in NE Calgary hit-and-run
Barriskill was left with extensive injuries, including two blood clots in her brain, a small bleed on her brain, multiple fractures on her skull, a fractured shoulder, and bruised lungs.
“My first question to the doctor was ‘Can you tell me if she’s going to be OK?’ And they really couldn’t answer that which was really difficult to hear,” her mom said. “She was in a coma for five days.
“We still don’t know the full extent of the brain injury because there’s so many underlying things, which is something we’re going to be working on over the next three to six months with the neuro team, the physio, with the occupational team.”
Now that she requires round-the-clock care, Sackmann and her husband, Chris, are unable to work, and are hoping to raise $15,000 through the “Keira’s Road to Recovery” GoFundMe page, to alleviate the financial burden and pay for many of the teen’s treatments, which aren’t covered by insurance.
The hit-and-run is still under investigation by Calgary police.
Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 403-266-1234 or tip anonymously through CrimeStoppers.
