FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A former college student hit by an alleged drunken driver had a series of setbacks over the weekend.
Emily Bowman, 20, is now back in the intensive care unit recovering from multiple seizures.
Her parents told Channel 2’s Diana Davis that until now, she had been making steady progress.
Nearly two years after an alleged drunken driver hit her, Emily was taking her first steps with a walker.
Saturday, she experienced a series of seizures – the first she has experienced since her massive brain injury.
“I didn’t know what had happened. I didn’t know if she had a stroke, if it was a seizure or what,” said Emily’s mother, Debbie Bowman.
She said in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, Emily had a third seizure.
“She was very frightened. I have a picture here on my phone that shows her in the ambulance and it just shows the look of fear on her face,” said Debbie Bowman.
Emily has been in Scottish Rite’s intensive care unit since Saturday. Her parents said the drugs doctors are using to control the seizures leave Emily groggy and unresponsive.
“We’d sort of gotten lulled into a false sense of, you know, everything is OK, and were making great strides and then, you know, we hit this road bump. It just threw us for a loop,” said Emily’s dad, Dale Bowman.
At least 10 percent of patients with traumatic brain injuries like Emily’s have seizures. Her parents hope medication will control them and prevent future problems.
They admit this setback has hit them hard.
“Horrible, horrible. I hate this roller-coaster,” said Debbie Bowman. “Just keep the prayers going, and hope that Emily pulls herself out of this. I think she will.”
William Heaton is charged with DUI and hitting the then-teenager. He goes on trial in Athens on Dec. 3. He faces 13 charges.
WSBTV
