![\"Harlie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Trumbach-and-team.jpg\")
Harlie Trumbach and the Reading Hospital team that cared for her after she was severely injured in a car crash. (Keith Dmochowski – Reading Eagle)<\/p>\nHarlie Trumbach doesn\u2019t remember much from the crash that trapped her in a burning vehicle.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll I remember is calling my kids and my girlfriend to say goodbye,\u201d Trumbach said. \u201cBecause I didn\u2019t think I was going to make it out of the car.\u201d<\/p>\n
She recalls even less from the hours afterward, when she had to be intubated after suffering a stroke while bleeding from her carotid artery.<\/p>\n
What she does remember is the kindness and care of the emergency workers who stopped at nothing to save her life.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I felt supported the most was when I woke up and saw them (my care team),\u201d Trumbach said. \u201c(Dr.) Ryan (Michels) who helped me sit up and start moving from the bed to the chair. All the nurses that helped me, even though they didn\u2019t know what I was saying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trumbach was one of three Reading Hospital patients who spoke during a recent event at the hospital celebrating trauma survivors\u2019 recoveries and the workers who aid them.<\/p>\n
In a tearful recounting of her ordeal, Trumbach thanked her care team, who she saw for the first time since leaving the hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll my therapists and my nurses that were at the rehab that helped me when I didn\u2019t want to do anything at all, I really appreciate all of you guys so much,\u201d Trumbach said.<\/p>\n
Some of the reunions were effectively introductions, like when Trumbach met Northen Berks EMS worker Jackie Ginther, who responded to the crash.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou probably remember me the least because I gave you the most medication,\u201d Ginther said.<\/p>\n
Trumbach responded with a laugh and a hug.<\/p>\n
Dr. Alice Lee was a surgeon who operated on Trumbach while she was in the intensive care unit.<\/p>\n
She said Trumbach started having strokelike symptoms in the trauma bay, requiring quick action from the team to bring her to the ICU and stabilize her.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was multiple different doctors,\u201d Lee said. \u201cWe had the neurocritical care doctor that was involved, our respiratory therapist who helped with ventilator settings. We had the GI doctor come in because she started bleeding internally and they were able to stop the bleeding.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lee credited her team for keeping Trumbach alive during the critical period.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was really rewarding when we finally took that breathing tube out,\u201d Lee said. \u201cSeeing her be able to smile and just watching (her interact with) all the family members.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cassie Kershner, occupational therapist, said she helped Trumbach regain her mobility.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of her early sessions were focusing on getting her to tolerate sitting at the edge of the bed,\u201d Kercher said. \u201cShe was in a lot of pain with her broken leg and just having the stroke as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Abby McCall, a physician assistant who cared for Trumbach after she was stabilized, said it was amazing to see her progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love these events because we on the inpatient side don\u2019t really get to see how our patients then do after rehab,\u201d McCall said.<\/p>\n
Harlie Trumbach and the Reading Hospital team that cared for her after she was severely injured in a car crash. (Keith Dmochowski – Reading Eagle)<\/p>\n
Five months have passed since Trumbach\u2019s accident.<\/p>\n
She is now able to walk with a cane and speak and continues to push forward with optimism.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was depressed in the beginning of my recovery,\u201d Trumbach said. \u201cBut I quickly realized that wasn\u2019t going to help me. I ended up getting motivated and pushing myself to do things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve McLaughlin<\/p>\n
Staying positive is a critical step on the road to recovery, said Steve McLaughlin<\/a>, who was left quadriplegic after a 1,000-pound scrap dumpster fell on him, breaking parts of his spinal cord.<\/p>\n He\u2019s since regained function in his upper body, along with some ability to walk assisted.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m out walking with my walker every day and riding my (adaptive cycle),\u201d McLaughlin said. \u201cDon\u2019t get down on yourself. Just keep pushing, keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Steve](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Steve-McLaughlin.jpg\")
Steve McLaughlin is continuing his recovery at Reading Hospital after a spinal injury left him quadriplegic. (Keith Dmochowski – Reading Eagle)<\/p>\n
![\"Trauma](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Arianna-Hampton.jpg\")
Trauma survivor Arianna Hampton left a lasting impact on her care team at the Reading Hospital. (Keith Dmochowski \u2013 Reading Eagle)<\/p>\n