The 23-year-old Dallas TikToker, who was the victim of a hit-and-run that killed her best friend in February, miraculously came off the ventilator for the first time since the wreck.
Camryn Herriage was seriously hurt in a crash that injured five people and killed her roommate and friend, Sarah House.
Their vehicle was waiting at a red light when a Ford pickup driven by an extremely intoxicated woman smashed into them, causing a chain reaction crash.
Until last week, Herriage had been on a ventilator for nearly two months.
Herriage’s mother, Shirley Campanello, said she has consistently been preparing for the worst, but her daughter has overcome the odds time and again.
The 23-year-old Dallas TikToker, who was the victim of a hit-and-run that killed her best friend in February, miraculously came off the ventilator for the first time since the wreck
Camryn Herriage, 23, was riding in a car alongside her college roommate and three other friends on February 11, when their vehicle was smashed into by a Ford pickup
She feared the worst when she watched her daughter be wheeled into a six-hour surgery that wound up taking just 90 minutes.
‘I knew she was gone. I just knew it because he (the doctor) was out to fast … but it was good news, not bad,’ she recalled, speaking with Fox 4 News.
Herriage has had brain surgery, heart surgery and several operations in between since the tragic crash.
The outlet reported that doctors at Methodist Dallas Medical Center haven’t expected Herriage to do as well as she has throughout her harrowing experience post-crash.
‘Ninety-eight percent of people wouldn’t have made it, but she did,’ said her mother.
As Herriage continues her recovery, she has yet to be made aware that her friend didn’t make it.
Friends stop by and visit and her mother says she wonders why they come without Sarah.
She said she ‘sees the doubt in her eyes.’ But the family feel ‘like Sarah is pushing her along’ through the intense recovery.
Herriage, at present, still has a tube down her throat to help her breathe. Doctors also say they are not yet fully aware of the extent of the young woman’s brain damage.
She may be required to relearn even simple motions. But her family is holding on to hope that Camryn will one day make it home.
‘We were told by several people this is the best we could do. They were pretty set that she would be dependent on a ventilator. It was hope. That was all we had,’ said her mother.
Herriage’s best friend and college roommate from Texas Tech University, Sarah House, (pictured) tragically died in the hit-and-run
Their vehicle was waiting at a red light on Beckley Avenue, in Dallas, when a Ford pickup truck slammed into them, causing a chain reaction car crash that left five injured and one dead
Herriage, pictured here being wheeled around the hospital, has undergone several intense surgeries since the crash
On Sunday, her uncle Tim Herriage said on Facebook that Camryn had been breathing on her own
Camryn is expected to spend at least two more months at the hospital before she’s moved to a rehab center.
The suspect in the crash, 27-year-old Carmen Guerrero, remains locked up in the Dallas County Jail.
Following the deadly wreck, witnesses say they saw Guerrero running from the scene. She is now facing a handful of charges, including manslaughter.
She was arrested 11 days after the collision, and after detectives found her wallet in the car.
The crash occurred just two blocks from the apartment Herriage shared with House in a 35-mph zone.
Herriage’s uncle confirmed earlier last week, that his niece was showing positive signs of development.
‘Camryn has been breathing on her own for over 24 hours!’ he wrote on Facebook.
He added: ‘A speech therapist will visit soon to assess her ability to use voice control.
‘This step could potentially lead to her trying to speak, and if successful, they might plug the tracheostomy.
‘Additionally, there’s a hopeful outlook for Camryn to transition into a regular room within the next week or so.
‘All of these developments are positive signs of Camryn’s progress. Thank you for your continued support as we embrace this good news.’
The woman who allegedly ran after the crash was identified by police as 27-year-old Carmen Guerrero
Ahead of the devastating crash, Herriage worked as a social media management and branding company based in Lubbock, Texas
Doctors are now working to determine the extent of her brain damage
The crash occurred just two blocks from the apartment Herriage shared with House in a 35-mph zone
House has been remembered in a GoFundMe, which has so far raised over $36,000, in commemoration of her ‘bright spirit and infectious laughter’.
‘Sara was known for her compassionate nature and her unwavering desire to make everyone around her happy,’ her loved ones said last month.
‘Her kindness and caring demeanor touched the lives of many, leaving a lasting impression on all who knew her.’