TARBORO —
Miracles and wishes coming true around Christmas time have continued to happen around the Hale family year after year. The wishes have come true for the Hale family during their past two Christmas holidays. Keith and Vickie Hale have a 15-year old daughter, Miranda, who has been in and out of the hospital numerous times for heart complications.
She was born with a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It is a primary disease of the heart muscle in which a portion of the myocardium is thickened without any obvious cause.
After their 2010 family Christmas, Miranda had to be rushed to the hospital on New Year's Day because her heart went into atrial fibrillation. Her heart stopped beating and she went into cardiac arrest. She also stopped breathing. The Hale family didn't receive good news once Miranda had been stabilized at the hospital. The Hale's were told their daughter would be bed-ridden the rest of her life and thought that Christmas may never be the same again.
A miracle happened though, because Miranda began to improve after a couple of months in the hospital. After 83 days of being in the pediatric intensive care unit, she was transferred to a rehabilitation unit where she spent another 57 days.
Miranda had suffered a severe brain injury when she went into cardiac arrest. She had to learn how walk again and how to use her motor skills.
Miranda was released from the hospital in July and had to continue rehab so she could work on her fine and gross motor skills. Miranda started back to school, but was only going two days a week, because she was balancing rehab three times a week in with it.
"We sent Miranda back to school on a limited basis because she was in rehab," Keith said. "We were just trying to get her back as close to being normal as she could again."
When Christmas rolled around last year Miranda had improved tremendously considering what the doctors had told her family while she was hospitalized. The doctors had said Miranda would never recover.
"I was a blessing that Miranda recovered like she did after we were told she would never recover," Keith Hale said. "It was just a true blessing for her to recover like she did."
As Christmas neared, the community gathered around Miranda with outpouring support for her and her family. She was selected by Curtis and Melanie Bearden, who do an annual event called Autumn's Lights. The Bearden's help raise money for hospital bills for a selected family and the Hale's happened to be the family chosen.
"The community support was amazing," Keith said. "We had people calling, helping us any way possible – it was just a blessing at the support we had gotten."
As Christmas approached, Miranda had recovered and was going to school and had began walking better. She was still not a 100 percent, but she was recovering day by day.
The Hale's were truly blessed that their daughter had recovered like she had and had beat the odds from what doctors had told them.
"Our Christmas was very special last year because we had Miranda with us," Keith said. "It was just a true blessing we had our family together and were able to celebrate another Christmas together."
Miranda had been doing good health-wise, but had some complications two weeks ago when she got short of breath and was having trouble breathing. Doctors did an ultrasound and found she had fluid that had built up in her lungs and had developed pneumonia. Miranda was released from the hospital Tuesday and the Hale family will have another special Christmas for which to be thankful.
"We are relieved that we will be able to spend Christmas together as a family again this year," Keith Hale said.
The Hale family feels blessed with all of the support they have received both times that Miranda was in the hospital. Especially around the holiday's, because they know that their family and daughter are on other peoples minds during the special times of the year.
"The community support has been great both times Miranda was in the hospital," Keith Hale said. "People have called and checked on her and the family. The community has also helped us out with our 13-year old son, Will, and certain things like that."
The Hale family feels truly blessed and are very happy they will be able to spend another family holiday together.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Vickie, left, Keith and Miranda Hale are blessed to be able to celebrate another Christmas together as a family. For The Daily Southerner
Hale family feels truly blessed around Christmas
- Local News
-
-
Gas prices in Tarboro lower than state average
With Memorial Day Weekend around the corner, travelers on U.S. 64 exiting into Tarboro could discover some of the cheapest gas in North Carolina.
On Wednesday, Murphy Express reported the cheapest gas at $3.35 while Hadi's, Raceway and Hess prices were one cent higher. -
Tar River United Way recognizes ‘community champions’
“Be the change” was the theme of a United Way Tar River Region luncheon Wednesday at The Gateway Convention Center in Rocky Mount. United Way TRR recognized “community champions,” celebrated the success of its 2012 fundraising campaign and encouraged volunteers and partner agencies to “be the change” they want to see in the community.
-
America in Bloom judges’ visit Tarboro next month
Tarboro’s America in Bloom (AIB) steering committee is gearing up for the AIB judges’ visit to town next month. AIB is a national non-profit organization that promotes “beautification through education and community involvement.”
“Please join us as Tarboro prepares for the visit of national AIB judges on June 17 and 18,” said AIB co-chair Connie Sherrill in a competition planning update. “Help us bring out the beauty of our exceptional town.” -
Local Principal Completes Leadership Program
Donnell Brown, principal of Phillips Middle School, recently completed the Distinguished Leadership Program (DLP), a yearlong leadership development program for practicing school principals designed and provided by the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principal’s Association (NCPAPA) in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and UNC-LearnNC.
-
Woman faces 32 charges
A Tarboro woman's scam has led authorities to arrest her on 28 charges.
According to a Tarboro Police Department report, Jennifer Ann Carr, 29, 1609 Barlow Rd. Apt. 9, took out loans in the names of 16 customers of a local business from January through April. Carr was employed through a temp agency with a local business, said Tarboro Police Sgt. Al Braxton. Braxton said the total loan amount netted $4,300.
Carr was charged with 16 counts of identity theft and 16 counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. She was place in Edgecombe County Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond.
-
Two suspects arrested on 36 charges; third issued citation
After executing a search warrant Thursday on a residence at 500 W. Johnston St. in Tarboro, police officers arrested two suspects for possessing a small amount of marijuana and issued a third suspect a citation for possessing a glass pipe to smoke the drugs.
After the marijuana was found, officers notified two of the three suspects that they also had additional warrants on them from the department's "Spring Fling" drug campaign where they had sold marijuana to undercover officers. -
Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday
Want a leg up in a medical terminology course? Anatomy? Physical science? Take a look at Latin, perhaps the best grounding for all education.
Not convinced? Just ask Stephen Herring, instructor of religion, geography, and developmental studies at Edgecombe Community College (ECC). He will teach an Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday. The class will meet at Fleming 218 on the Tarboro campus. -
NTSB wants to lower DWI blood alcohol levels
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a bold set of targeted interventions to put the United States on course to eliminate alcohol-impaired related crashes. They have given recommendations that call for stronger laws, swifter enforcement and expanded use of technology.
-
Measles cases have state health officials concerned
Twenty-three cases of the measles have been reported in North Carolina in a recent outbreak and has state health officials concerned.
“It (measles) is a highly contagious disease that is spread in the air by coughing and sneezing,” said Susan Rogerson, nursing director at the Edgecombe County Health Department. Outbreaks of measles in the United States are rare because of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. -
County still looking for bids on 41 properties
While county commissioners have accepted bids on seven foreclosure properties, a total of 41 others remain available for interested parties to submit bids.
County Planning Director Brian Hassell said interested parties may submit bids for commissioners to consider. If a bid is approved and another party is interested, they may submit an upset bid. - More Local News Headlines
-
Officials: Truck Hit Bridge Before Collapse
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
