Community rallies around Genola teen who injured brain while learning to snowboard

PROVO — A Genola woman’s 19th birthday Thursday is not the celebration her family expected, after she suffered a traumatic brain injury while snowboarding.

Still, the family of Ashlyn Ewell says support from neighbors and friends is helping her family during an uncertain time.  

“All the support we have seen from the community, even people we don’t even know, donating and being very generous, it has been great to see,” said Adam Ewell, Ashlyn’s uncle.

Ashlyn had recent started to learn to snowboard. While at Sundance with a friend on March 1, she fell and hit her head. The head injury required extensive brain surgery to relieve the swelling, but she has been able to respond to family in recent days.

“We don’t have all the details because no one saw it, but she was found there awake a little bit and then went unconscious. She can squeeze a hand when she is awake. We saw her hold up a finger when we asked to give a thumbs up. Not a lot of other movements, but certainly some encouraging signs, some sweet things to see from her,” Ewell added.

Ashlyn was scheduled to begin serving an LDS mission to Dallas on April 11.

Friends have organized a benefit dinner and auction this Saturday, March 17, at 3 p.m. at the park in Genola, through the hashtag Prayers for Ashlyn Ewell.

“You can see the impact Ashlyn’s life has had and all of the people reaching out saying she did this for me in the past, how can we give back and help her?” Adam said.

While Ashlyn’s long term prognosis remains unknown, her uncle says the family is encouraged to see some small steps toward recovery.

“She is getting a little better each day, we do understand it is a long road ahead, we are trying to be patient and put it in the hands of the doctors and more importantly our Heavenly Father and really hope for the best at this point,” he said.

RELATED LINK: https://www.facebook.com/PrayersForAshlynEwell/

RELATED LINK: https://prayersforashlyn.blogspot.com/