Nine-Year-Old Paw Paw Girl is a Young Hero
Published: May 31, 2006
Paw Paw - A Paw Paw Later Elementary student was given a medal of courage by the United States Air Force National Guard 110th Fighter Wing division Tuesday morning during a ceremony at the school.
Adriana Lee Kaleward, 9, a third grade student in teacher Chris Koehne’s class, received the Young Heroes Award for “her outstanding display of courage and bravery in the face of both a life-threatening accident and subsequent surgeries.”
On Aug. 6, 2005, Kaleward was walking her horse in a pasture. When the horse became spooked, the lead rope wrapped around the little girl’s hand. During that time, Kaleward was dragged approximately 200 yards.
Kaleward was finally re-leased from the horse when she hit a tree and the rope severed her left hand.
She was transported to Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, then airlifted to Motts Children Hospital at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she underwent treatment.
For nine days, Kaleward underwent various surgeries to restore her hand, however, the hand and arm were badly damaged and a prosthetic hand and arm would be required.
The certificate read in part, “Adriana Kaleward has endured intense suffering and pain as a result of the accident. Her indomitable spirit and sheer determination to survive and thrive in the face of loss of limb, fighting for her life and living with a prosthetic hand, is a credit to her and an inspiration to all of us.”
The certificate was signed by Col. David L. Augustine, MI ANG, 110th Fighter Wing, vice commander.
Sharing in the day with Kaleward were her grandparents, Bill and Sue Hoekstra of Decatur.
Hoekstra said, “At least we didn’t lose her! We’ve got to look at the pluses.”
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