From life support to her recovery ‘hell’

• Author: Megan Wilson
• Published date: 26 January 2023
• Publication title: Te Puke Times

The Te Puke wāhine says it feels “awful” knowing she cannot live “a normal life”

Despite this, her mother says it is a “total miracle” Hollie is still alive.

On November 18, 2018, Hollie was in a fatal two-car crash on State Highway 33 at Okere Falls when she was travelling between Rotorua and her hometown, Te Puke.

The then 16-year-old suffered serious head injuries and her family was told she would not survive. Teao “Tilly” Marjoribanks, who was in the other vehicle, lost her life.

Respecting Hollie’s wishes, the family spent the first week preparing to donate her organs while she was on life support in Waikato Hospital.

But after 12 days in the hospital, Hollie showed signs of improvement. She was taken off life support and moved to the high-dependency unit.

More than four years after the accident, Hollie sits with her mother in their Te Puke living room. She looks glowing, with perfectly-done red lipstick and wearing teal-coloured eyeshadow and a matching-coloured dress. Listening to her talk and watching her mannerisms, it is impossible to tell she has suffered permanent brain damage from the accident.

But Hollie says her recovery has been “hell”.

“I can’t work, I can’t drive.”

She cannot do “a lot of things my friends are doing”, which feels “awful”.

“Because I can’t live, per se, a normal life.”

Her main challenge with her recovery was having no memory, as she suffered post-traumatic amnesia after the accident. She does not remember the accident, nor parts of her life before it, including her school ball in July 2018. Hollie has had to relearn everything, including how to walk, talk and eat, and says her whānau are the reason why she got through.

She lives with her younger sister Sam, and her parents Dale and David. Her older sister Larnie Woodward lives nearby.

Another challenge for Hollie is not being able to participate in alcohol-related activities, due to the medication she takes.

“All my friends have been having their 21st birthdays,” she said, to which she does not go.

Instead, for her 21st birthday, she went ziplining in Rotorua with a group of family and friends and had a...