Elyse K. Dehner
2004 Community Hero
For 12-year-old Elyse (a.k.a. “Bunny”), taking adventure walks in the woods with her dog, Fiona, has long been a favorite pastime, along with riding horses, playing soccer and writing poetry. Her mom, Laura, says that cheese – in the form of pizza and lasagna – ranks high among Elyse’s favorite foods.
On November 26, 2003, Elyse suffered a traumatic brain injury that put her in a coma for two and a half months. Today, after three neurosurgeries, one orthopedic surgery, and continuous physical, occupational and speech therapy, Elyse is learning how to walk and talk again.
Despite the hardships and painful rehabilitation, her perseverance and incredible sense of humor have stood out above all else. Already, she’s making huge strides toward recovery and is dreaming of future plans to visit Africa, where the inconveniences won’t seem so inconvenient given what she’s been through.
Ask her what it means to be a hero and Elyse is quick to say that heroes are people who “never give up and are willing to risk their own well-being for the sake of another.”
