Casey Delaney divides life into two parts: before the accident and after the accident.
Because on Canada Day in 2018, Casey nearly died.
She spent the day celebrating with friends and her boyfriend, Scott, and was sitting on an inflatable raft on the Gatineau River when the driver of another personal watercraft lost control. Casey took the brunt of the hit.
Scott performed CPR until paramedics arrived and transported her to The Ottawa Hospital — the only adult Level 1 Trauma Centre in Eastern Ontario, serving patients from across the region including Western Quebec. Casey’s injuries were extensive and complex — she would need their expertise to save her.
Dr. John Sinclair was the neurosurgeon on-call that day. Casey would later refer to him as “an angel” for the remarkable role he played in keeping her alive.
Casey was diagnosed with a severe traumatic brain injury and to reduce the swelling in her brain, doctors removed the left half of her skull and put her in a medically induced coma for two weeks. Her doctors weren’t sure if she’d ever walk again or remember her loved ones. But when Casey woke up, there was hope.
“I had issues with walking at first, but I was getting up as soon as I could, and that’s pretty lucky,” says Casey, who was just 26 at the time.
After two months of intensive therapy at our specialized brain injury rehabilitation program, Casey had made such great progress she was ready to go home and continue therapy as an outpatient.
Her recovery has been nothing short of miraculous. By the following September, Casey was able to return to her job teaching kindergarten full time and no longer needed therapy. Scott, who stayed by her side throughout her recovery, proposed. They married in 2021 and the following year, their daughter was born.
For Casey, feeling like they are “back to living a normal life.” is a precious gift and she’s grateful for each day she’s able to chase her two-and-a half-year old around their house.
