Scarlett

At just ten years old, Scarlett knew exactly who she wanted to become: a marine biologist, a Mizzou graduate, a corgi owner, a mom of two daughters, and she was adamant she did not want a husband. She grew up in small town, Ava, MO. She won spelling bees, played piano, sang in choir, and was a competitive athlete. Scarlett’s future felt beautifully mapped out.

Then, on June 19, 2025, a single moment changed everything.

What started as a play date at the river just five minutes from home quickly turned into every parent’s worst nightmare. Scarlett stepped into what appeared to be calm water to help a friend with an inner tube. Suddenly, a current pulled her under. She was sucked into the culvert, and the exit was clogged with debris, leaving her trapped underwater. Those nearby tried desperately to reach her, but Scarlett remained stuck until emergency response arrived.

She was rushed to the local hospital where doctors worked for hours to stabilize her. After an agonizing ten hours of thinking she would not live, Scarlett was flown to St. Louis Children’s Hospital with a slim chance at survival. In those hours, the family braced for the unthinkable.

Scarlett defied odds and spent two months in the PICU, though doctors warned her parents she may never speak, eat, hear, see, or respond again. Searching for hope, the family toured Ranken Jordan. Seeing children moving, playing, and engaging felt overwhelming especially knowing Scarlett could not do these things. The family found themselves asking “Is this the right place for someone in Scarlett’s condition?” YES, was the answer, as she was welcomed with open arms.

Scarlett arrived at Ranken Jordan in August 2025. She quickly began experiencing new “firsts.” Wearing real clothes, taking showers, and going outside. Though she arrived unresponsive, small signs soon appeared in purposeful eye movement and delayed but intentional hand squeezes. Today, she has improved so much that she is no longer on the coma scale and can communicate with her eyes, even playing Uno by selecting cards with her eyes. She sees and hears, though responses take time.

Her parents, Shelby and Clint, credit her progress to a team that refuses to give up on her. A team that pushes the whole family. “I would think, ‘She’s never going to do that,’” her mom, Shelby said. “And staff would correct me by saying, ‘Not yet.’”

That “not yet” has become a light of hope.

At Ranken Jordan, Scarlett and her family have experienced joy alongside healing: Blues player visits, therapy dogs, family holiday events, and moments of reconnecting with the world around them. Her parents participate in clinical team rounds daily, learning how to advocate for Scarlett.

“We’re still learning Scarlett post-accident,” her parents said. But one thing is certain: she is still here, still progressing, and still proving that her story did not end on the river.

And for her family, that is nothing short of a miracle.