A Tennessee community is mourning the loss of one of their own after she was tragically killed in a storm.
Aleya Brooks (pictured above) was helping her family pick up debris from the driveway of their Hendersonville home when the clean-up project took a tragic turn. A storm where winds reached up to 79 miles per hour caused a tree to fall, striking the Liberty Creek High School cheerleader in the head. Her family rushed her to the Skyline Hospital trauma unit while she was unconscious. Her mother held her in her arms as she bled out. So, so sad…
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Upon her arrival at the hospital, the 15-year-old girl was placed on life support and in critical condition. She was suffering from a traumatic brain injury which caused deep brain bleeding along with head and facial fractures. Her grief-stricken father, Jason Brooks, wrote on Facebook:
“This is not the ending any of us hoped or prayed for. We just stood there, holding her hand, stroking her hair, and reminding her how much she is loved even though she could not respond.”
Sadly, Aleya would succumb to her injuries the next day. She was given an honor walk and donated her organs to save other lives — which saving lives is exactly what she always aspired to do. The young girl, who was adopted by her family from China at only 9 months old, wanted to become a neuropsychologist to help people with brain injuries. Her father told local news station WZTV:
“It’s really hard that our daughter, who wanted to heal so many, actually, died of a traumatic brain injury.”
Her mom, Darla Brooks, spoke to the outlet and recalled how her cheerleader daughter tore her ACL previously:
“She wrote this essay about her torn ACL, and she said, ‘Mom, I want another story – that one is two years old,’ and I said, ‘Just pray about it, God will give you another story.’ I don’t like this story, but it is her story.”
Just heartbreaking she died from the very thing she intended to help others with…
In a social media post, the young girl’s dad detailed how they chose “the only path possible”:
“The neurosurgeon could only say, “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. This is a horrific injury.’ … After a hard fight, our daughter is in the arms of Jesus now.”
Her family has opened up a GoFundMe to raise money to honor her legacy, as well as “care and research for neurological brain disorders.” The description reads:
“Even in her passing, we want to help her continue her legacy of loving people and making a difference in lives around the world … all while loving Jesus with all her heart and being a light to the world.”
If you’d like to donate, you can click here.
Aleya’s brother, Nathaniel Brooks, took to Facebook to mourn the loss of his beloved little sister, writing:
“I wish God gave you more time with us, but I trust in His plan. You were a shining light in our dark world. You taught us so much, and I loved every moment with you. It’s hard to find the words right now, but Aleya I love you with all I am, and am so sorry I couldn’t protect you.”
Such a devastating loss. Our hearts are with Aleya’s family and loved ones as they navigate this unthinkable tragedy. May she rest in peace.
[Image via GoFundMe/YouTube/WKRN News 2]