March 11, 1996 started off as any normal school day. Holly
told the family and her puppy goodbye and left for school.
She had completed drivers education at school and had been driving for about 4 months, and was a good driver, just an inexperienced one. That was the last time any of us would see her as we had grown to know her. I received a phone call at work informing me of Holly's accident, and was told it was very serious and that she was being air lifted to the hospital. I raced to the emergency room while my fellow workers called other family members , and was met at the emergency room door by the hospital Chaplain. I will never forget the feeling I had when I saw him as I immediately assumed Holly had already died. I was later told that she was still alive, but not expected to live through the night. I was allowed, along with my Mother, to stay in the PICU with her overnight since the situation was so grave. Except for the trauma to her head, the only outward indication she had been in an accident were a few scratches on her left hand.
I later learned from the officer who worked the accident that she was traveling approximately 35-40 mph and had dropped her right wheels off the side of the road. She then over-corrected, and ran the car off the left side of the road, down an embankment, and struck a tree. The entire impact was to the left side of her head. Holly was wearing her seatbelt, and the air bag deployed, but she still struck her head on the window frame of the car.
Against all odds, Holly pulled through the night, although the pressure from swelling in her brain continued to rise. The next morning the Neurosurgeon, Dr. Robert Hines, told me that he expected Holly would pass away over the next 72 hours. I can't remember much about those hours except just being there with Holly, talking to her, and encouraging her to live. Her brain pressure rose alarmingly high many times. I read her all the cards and notes her fellow students brought to the hospital. Since she was in PICU, only her immediate family could visit. Her Mamaw, Papaw, Aunt Sandy, Aunt Trina, David, her Dad, Uncle Jim and Uncle Rick and other family members all took turns to spend time with her.
Once again, Holly fought and battled through the next 72 hours. She endured many surgeries over the next two weeks; facial reconstruction, shunt placement to drain fluid from her ventricles, a gastric feeding tube placed in her stomach, and a dura repair to the lining of the brain because spinal fluid was leaking from her sinuses. She overcame one setback after another. I thank God that she was in a coma during all these procedures and did not suffer the intense pain she would have if she were conscious.
Holly stayed in a coma for over four months. So many times I prayed that she would just wake up. She gradually did, but we all soon realized we no longer had the Holly we were all used to. We now had a very special Holly to care for. My heart ached for her, as she was once a vivacious, energetic, athletic young lady and she could now not control most of her body functions, yet I was overjoyed that I still had her with me.
Holly started rehab as an in-patient while still in the hospital, and finally came home for the first time on September 6, 1996. It was a transition for us all, learning to care for her special needs, accomodating handicap equipment into our home, and organizing in-home care, therapies, and Doctor visits around our work schedules. We had to continue to work to provide for the entire family.
For the next 6 1/2 years Holly remained in physical, speech, and occupational therapies. She was hospitalized many more times, mostly to control seizures she had developed as a result of the brain trauma. Her Neurologist had finally found a mixture of anti-convulsants that seemed to be working, although with many ill side effects.
Holly started attending the Crumley House Head Injury Rehab program in 2001, and was making so much progress in her life. She had made a very special friend there, Alton Gernt. We finally let her have her own apartment there on October 1, 2002, something she had wanted so badly. I was reluctant to let her leave our daily care, but I am so glad I did....she was so happy! For some unknown reason Holly had very severe seizures on the night of October 12, 2002, while visiting with her Grandmother. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened in her day. She was hospitalized again, where this time she was not able to battle through it. She experienced multi-organ failure, DIC, and ultimately died from hypotensive shock, all brought about by the massive seizures. She never regained consciousness after the seizures, and slipped away to heaven quietly with her family by her side.
I will never understand why my precious daughter had to struggle and battle back from such an injury, only to be struck down again. I can only reason that God had some Higher purpose for her. She touched so many lives her short time here on earth and is a true inspiration for so many. When I feel like giving up, I just think of her. She never gave up in spirit, only her body gave in.
I am grateful for the twenty three years He gave her to us. I am honored and priviledged that God chose me to be her Mother. She taught me more about love and life than I could ever have taught her. She is my hero. I will love her until my last breath....and then be with her again.

http://www.crumleyhouse.com/
http://www.braininjury.com/

Holly is greatly missed by so many.  She was such a bright, enthusiastic young lady.  She made friends so easily and always wanted to help those in need.
Holly's family, friends, and loved ones have two Holly's to remember, the Holly before the accident, and the one after the accident.  Traumatic brain Injury (TBI) affects your life and abilities in so many ways.  Simple things we take for granted such as tying your shoes are no longer an easy function after a brain injury.  Holly's closed head injury was very, very, severe, and left her without the ability to care for any of her needs for a very long time.
Holly never complained about her injury or limited abilities, but would oftentimes become frustrated because she so wanted to do the things she was used to doing. She had always excelled at just about everything she did ; as a student, a big sister, an athlete, a friend, and finally as a patient.  She was never expected to live, much less to make the progress she did in her rehab. She just tried to make the best of the situation life handed her.
The last six months of her recovery and rehab were the best for her.  She had regained many of her abilities and was just starting to enjoy many things in life that a young lady her age should.
Holly had worked hard to regain abilities over the course of six years, and touched so many lives in the process.  I often question why God allowed Holly to go through so much and to make such great progress, only to meet the expected outcome at the time of her accident.  The answer I come to each time is that God used Holly to touch and inspire so many people after her accident.  She was then given her true reward in heaven.
In the United States traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death for persons under the age of 45.  A TBI occurs every 15 seconds, and approximately 5 million Americans currently suffer from some form of TBI disability.  The leading cause of Traumatic Brain Injuries are motor vehicle accidents, falls, and sports injuries.
The Crumley House Brain Injury Rehab program plays a vital role in helping individuals with brain injuries regain abilities. It was very comforting to have an organization like The Crumley House when making decisions about Holly's care after her injury.
The Holly Proffitt Memorial Scholarship Program was started after Holly's death to help individuals who have suffered a TBI and need additional resources or funding.  The Scholarship was funded by contributions by Holly's family, friends, and loved ones in her memory.
Holly will live on forever in the hearts and memories of everyone she touched. The last words I told her before she went to heaven were  "You Are My Hero".

Holly loved and cared about everyone around her. She was very sensitive and thoughtful. So many people were touched by her life, and so many people supported her and helped her both before and after her accident. I want to personally thank the many whose help, encouragement, and support meant so much: Holly's family, whose love and support keep us all going; her coaches, teachers, fellow students and athletes; Everyone at Pal's; the Washington County Emergency Medical Staff, especially Steven Croley; Wings Air Rescue; the Johnson City Medical Center Hospital emergency staff, PICU, and ICU staff; Dr. Robert Hines and Assistant Scott Hardy; Dr. Jarlath Mitchell; Everyone at Martindale Baptist Church; the James H. and Cecile Quillen Center For Rehabilitation; Rehab Plus; Opportunities Unlimited; Frontier Health; The ARC Of Washington County; Daniel Boone Special Education Staff, especially Cathy Dunn; Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation; the entire staff and members of The Crumley House Head Injury Rehab; Dr. Amy Thomas, who stayed with her right to the end; Reverend and Cue Storie, and Reverend Lennie Smith who were always there no matter what. We also want to thank the staff at Gray Funeral Home and Washington County Memory Gardens who were there for us all in such a difficult time. We will be eternally grateful for all that was done for her.

This was the last picture taken of Holly before her accident. It was taken on Sunday, March 10, 1996, as she walked up our drive way. She was drinking her apple juice that she loved so much. I never dreamed that this would be the last healthy day of her life.

Holly's Star From Aunt Sandy.
Her Light Will Shine Forever Like A Diamond In The Sky.
We Will Never Be The Same Without her,
But Heaven Is Sure To Be Much Brighter.

Meaning Of The Name Holly - "Holy One"

Origin and History

The holly is one of
the most popular
Christmas evergreens.
The holly tree was
known to medieval
monks as the "Holy Tree"
because it was believed to keep evil spirits away.
It was also believed to protect a home from
lightening. The early Romans decorated their
hallways with holly garlands during the
mid-winter feast of Saturnalia. Holly later
became the emblem of
eternal life; the pointed
leaves of the holly
represented the
crown of thorns worn
by Jesus; the red
berries symbolized
the drops of blood
shed. Holly also
came to represent
the biblical burning
bush in which God
appeared before Moses.

When Holly was a little girl she found half a walnut
shell. She thought it was a pig's nose. I shared this
story with all the angel families while at our first
gathering in Virginia Beach. Nancy Davis made this
for me when she returned home. I just love it!!!!
Thanks so much dear Nancy.

One of our family dogs is a black Miniature Schnauzer
named Molly, who Holly affectionately called "Moo Moo."
Molly has always been special to us because she
was born on October 21, 2000, the same day that
my Grandmother had passed away in 1995.
It also turned out to be the same day that Holly
passed away in 2002. I believe that was my
Grandmother's way of letting me know that
Holly was safe and well with her forever.

Christmas of 2002 was very hard for our family. It was our
first Christmas without dear Holly. We did not celebrate much, but did manage to exchange some gifts. That afternoon I was watching a television show on Animal Planet called Dogs With Jobs. There was a little westie on the show named Harvey. His job was to sit with elderly patients in nursing homes and he was a great source of comfort to the elderly who often had no other visitors. I was overwhelmed with the thought that I had to have a westie. We already had five dogs, so we absolutely did not need another dog. The next day I spent the entire morning trying to find a breeder of westies in my area. I finally found one in Hickory, North Carolina. Holly's sister Jaime, her brother Aaron, her brother-in-law Kirt, and I went to get our puppy. We were told we could choose from three puppies. They sat them on the floor, and we did not choose. This puppy chose us. She was so adorable. We named her Gracie. Holly had sang Amazing Grace in Church just two weeks before she passed away. While paying for the puppy I learned that she was born on October 22, 2002, just a few minutes after midnight. Holly had passed away just a few hours before. I have dreamed of Holly only a few times since she passed, but one included her holding Gracie as a puppy. All of our pets are special, but we have two very special dogs in our home and in our hearts.

Holly and her Great Grandmother Nellie Adams. Both
passed away on October 21, seven years apart.

Holly is my oldest child. I do not refer to her in the past tense as she is and always will be part of my life. When someone asks me how many children I have, I still reply that I have four. Holly did every thing early. She walked early, talked early, and was just so eager to take in everything around her. Maybe she knew her years on earth were going to be few. She gave her entire family such indescribable joy and always helped take care of her little sister and brothers. They in turn helped care for her after her accident. Holly excelled as a student and as an athlete, and had so many friends. Her fellow students held a 72 hour prayer vigil for her after her accident and continued to support her in so many ways. we will be forever grateful for their love and support.

Holly's friend and teammate showing her support after her accident.

I think of Holly each time I see Pooh. She always liked him and collected many Pooh items throughout the years. Pooh Bear rests in her arms now, and one sat atop her casket during her service.

Holly proudly wore the #30 uniform for the
Daniel Boone Lady Blazers from 1994-1996.
She was selected as one of the team
MVP's her Junior year.
Her fellow teammates dedicated the 1997
season and State Tournament
to Holly and wore #30 wristbands the entire season in her honor.

Aunt Sandy got Holly The Complete Tales Of Winnie The Pooh when she was in the hospital.  I sat and read her all the stories while she was still in a coma, and continued reading them to her after she came home.  I remember reading the butterfly story to her many times, but never imagined how significant it would become in our lives.  This page was made by Sandy and is in Holly's scrapbook.  She always loved her Pooh Bear.  Her room is exactly like she left it with all her Pooh keepsakes and I will always treasure them.

Holly did not have a real interest in flowers or plants before her accident, but always admired their beauty. We had a small grassy area shaped in the form of a semi-triangle to the right of our driveway that always "needed something". When Holly graduated in 1997 from High School after her accident, she asked her Aunt Sandy to make it into a flower garden just for her.  Sandy planted her a special garden which consisted of several forms of hostas, day lillies, prim rose and ferns.  Each fall these plants had to be cut back when their leaves died, and Holly always looked forward to seeing them all bloom back out beautiful in the spring.
Holly's brother, Aaron, works in landscaping and mowing, and I usually have him clean out her bed each fall.  I was having a particularly bad day this year on her birthday (October 3), and had planned to clean out her flower bed that evening myself just to be able to do something for her. I was unable to get to it however until the evening of October 6, which just happened to be the day Holly came home from the hospital when she was born.
I started at the top corner of the garden and trimmed away all the dead leaves.  As I was removing them from the bed, I noticed something green and taller right in the middle under a bunch of old hosta leaves.  It was a beautiful green Holly tree!  A lot of people would tell me that a bird dropped that seed there, but I don't think so.  There are no other Holly trees around. The chances of a bird dropping that holly seed right in the middle of her garden when there are miles and miles of pasture and lawns around are very small.  I know in my heart that Holly sent me that tree from heaven.  She knew I would have a hard time during her birthday and anniversary of her death, which is October 21, and she made sure I was the one who found it. I will cherish and nurture that tree forever.
I do believe that our loved ones continue to speak to us, we just have to learn how to listen.