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Granville Teen Recovering After Sledding Accident

Updated: Friday, March 8 2013, 12:26 PM EST
GRANVILLE -- A tragic sledding accident has left a 16 year old girl paralyzed and fighting for her life at Children's Hospital. Janet Gregory was sledding at Granville Golf Course on Alligator Hill with friends January 26.  The teens called 9 1 1 for help when she hit a tree and was knocked out.

Nancy Gregory wrote on the CaringBridge website journal that Janet is making progress, but quoting a friend, she said inch by inch is a cinch, yard by yard is hard.  Janet has had several surgeries and may not walk again.

Students are coming together to support their classmate and her family.  They are selling wristbands and have sent her lots of cards and photos.  Flannel Fridays are another way they remember Janet. Students sent a photograph of the entire student body, about 850 Kids, dressed in the comfortable clothes.

Janet is part of the lacrosse team. Players said they missed her running with them and being a part of the season. The accident has young people thinking about how important friends and family are and what it means to face danger.  "I think you should be cautious, but teens should not have their lives ruled by fear," said junior Megan McBride.

Students said they know the Gregory family wants them to get back to a routine. Janet's brother Ian, a senior, was with her when she crashed. "I would never think something that crazy would happen," said Michael Crum. Another friend David Walker said he has learned a lot. "I have learned how to help people through this, know what to do."

Janet's friends said they hope she can recover and live to go to college and have a family. "This was just so sudden. Everything changes and it is this big unknown. I like to be in control, and we are not in control over this," explained Sarah Emery who said her faith will be what gets her through this.

Janet Gregory Benefit Fund
C/o Park National Bank
PO Box 356
Granville,Ohio 43023

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Reporter: LuAnn Stoia
Web Producer: Kellie HannaGranville Teen Recovering After Sledding Accident