Young Edinburgh mum 'lucky to be alive' after surviving horror crash on night out
| Published date | 24 June 2022 |
| Author | Iona Young |
| Publication title | EdinburghLive (Scotland) |
She was one of six rushed to hospital and took the brunt of the impact while sitting in the middle of the back seat.
Monica told how she knew she had to survive the horrific crash to look after her daughter Macie, three, who has a rare brain condition as she is her main carer.
The Edinburgh mum, who works full time while looking after her little girl, has undergone high risk emergency surgery and had large metal screws inserted into her neck following the crash.
She will now stay in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary to recover and be monitored by health professionals and will have to wear a neck brace for up to three months.
The 24-year-old has praised her 'angel' family who will stick together and raise her daughter while she recovers and have been visiting daily in the neurological ward where she is based.
She also reflected on how short life is and hopes at just 24 she will never have to face the heartbreaking prospect of never waking up and seeing her daughter again.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live Monica said: "I was on a night out with friends, we had been to the Slug and Lettuce then we decided to go to a different nightclub. This guy said he had a lift, so we got in the car and after that I don't remember much.
"I was the worst out of everyone. I was in the back middle passenger seat everyone else was injured such as broken legs swollen heads and eye gashes but I took the brunt.
"I remember opening my eyes and the car was spinning in circles. The car crashed and my friend who was in the front passenger seat was unconscious.
"Members of the public opened the doors and began speaking to me to try to keep me awake, I knew I had done something to my back and neck so I stayed still until the paramedics came and the fire brigade began to cut the roof off.
"After the roof was off they assisted me getting out of the car by holding my neck and supporting my back.
"I was taken to the Royal Infirmary where I found out I had broken my neck, back and had several fractures in my pelvis along with a damaged vertebrae in my neck that had clots in it.
"They had to cut my lovely green outfit off, I've had a metal cage put in my neck as one of the disks in my neck broke so to help support my neck - and I'll be in a neck brace for 6-12 weeks."
Monica who will spend the next couple of weeks in hospital explained: "Hopefully I won't...
To continue reading
Request your trial