11-year-old girl makes progress after UTV accident in Alabama

Destinee Sides is showing signs of recovery after falling into a coma following a UTV accident with serious injuries.

Destinee’s father said his little girl was making progress after surgery Tuesday morning.

He texted WVTM 13’s Magdala Louissaint to tell her that after surgery, she was able to open her eyes slightly and move her thumb, something she hadn’t been able to do since the UTV accident.

Destinee’s story was first told on Monday evening.

>> “Wake up, Destinee”: Community supports 11-year-old girl in coma after UTV accident

She was riding in a side-by-side UTV with her sister on Friday when she was thrown from the vehicle and the quad landed directly on top of her.

According to her father, she was admitted to Children’s of Alabama in a coma with minimal brain activity and severe injuries.

Since the accident, the Jasper community has gathered at the Storehouse Church to pray for Destinee’s recovery.

These services take place on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m.

There are also plans to release balloons for Destinee and other children at Children’s of Alabama.

These can be found on the “Wake up Destinee” Facebook page, along with constant updates on her condition. The church has also set up a GoFundMe page to help the family and Destinee.