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LOS ANGELES () — A 9-year-old Ventura County girl is working to walk again after a life-threatening spinal fracture, drawing strength from her family and an unlikely source of inspiration, a therapy dog that survived a similar injury.
The Tuzak family was traveling during a rainy February road trip when their truck lost traction and hydroplaned.
“I was trying to do the best that I could to brake, and we unfortunately went head first into a cement pillar,” said Veronica Tuzak.
Tuzak, her husband Tim, and their 13-year-old son TJ all suffered serious injuries. But 9-year-old Ryan Tuzak was the most critically hurt.
“She suffered a fracture in her neck which was pushing on her spinal cord,” her father said.
Ryan also experienced trauma to vital organs and was transported to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where she underwent multiple surgeries, including a spinal fusion.
“There was a lot of pressure on the spinal cord, and where the spinal cord was was a really small space because it was so swollen,” said Dr. Virendra Desai, a neurosurgeon at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
“She really had essentially no use of her arms and legs on her initial exams,” said Dr. Lindsay Andras, Director of the Spine Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Doctors feared Ryan might become a quadriplegic and depend on a ventilator for the rest of her life.
“We lived in that for a while, I would say probably a month, of just not knowing what was going to happen,” Ryan’s dad said.
After a month in intensive care, Ryan was moved to the hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation center. At the time, she could not move her head, arms or legs.
Ryan’s rehabilitation demanded a grueling effort.
“You go into this rehab where you’re being pushed 18 hours a week, six days a week,” said CHLA physical therapist Rubi Buxton.
Over time, Ryan began to show improvement. By her side throughout the process has been her brother and a special chihuahua-terrier mix named Dip. Dip, like Ryan, suffered a spinal cord injury and had to relearn how to walk.
“We got to do some really great physical therapy for him, an underwater treadmill,” said Dip’s companion Dylan Rupert.
On difficult days when Ryan felt like giving up, hospital staff showed her videos of Dip performing the same exercises she was attempting.
The dog’s progress became a source of motivation. Dip also joined Ryan in the hospital hallways, running alongside her as she practiced pedaling on a specialized bike.
“It does help her to see if Dip can do it, I can do it, you know? He can do it, I can do it. Haha,” Veronica Tuzak said.
Four months after the crash, Ryan is now leaving the hospital. She still faces a long road to recovery but has made significant strides.
“I’m really thankful for my family being there, my surgeons and especially my brother, and Dip,” Ryan said.
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