OSU student from Troy coming home soon

Rachel Stump, the Troy High School grad who was seriously injured after she was hit by a vehicle in mid-August days before she was to start classes at Ohio State University, could be home by Sept. 25, her father told News Center 7 on Wednesday.

Matt Stump told News Center 7’s Yuna Lee that his daughter has been recovering from brain and skull injuries much faster than anticipated, and he has been traveling back and forth to Columbus for classes to learn how to administer care for her once she is released from the Wexner Medical Center.

“Her initial prognosis was not good, but at the moment, she’s doing real well for, you know, what she went through,” he said. “I’m happy for where we are at…. it could be a lot worse.”

Rachel awakened from a coma the week of Aug. 24, her father said.

According to thelantern.com, the online publication of the student newspaper at Ohio State, the driver who hit Stump also was an OSU student.

The online publication reported that according to Columbus police, the driver was headed south through a green light on North High Street near Chittenden Avenue when Stump was hit.

According to the report, Stump was crossing the street outside the crosswalk and that the driver’s blood alcohol content was 0.19, more than double the legal limit.

Stump’s blood alcohol content was not tested at the scene, police said.

According to thelantern.com, Rachel Stump was cited by police for being a pedestrian in the roadway.

The driver also was cited and the case has been forwarded to a Franklin County grand jury, Columbus police Sgt. Richard Weiner told thelantern.com in late August.

Wednesday, Matt Stump told News Center 7 that part of his daughter’s skull has not been reattached, a decision by her medical staff to allow for swelling. But, Stump said his daughter’s neck brace has been removed and she has been in physical therapy at the hospital.

She has even been eating and communicating on her own, he said.

Matt Stump says Rachel is having a difficult time comprehending all that’s going on with her recovery and the outpouring of support from the community.

Her sisters and friends organized a slew of events to raise funds for help defray the medical costs. A Facebook site, #prayforrachel, has more than 13,000 followers.