Young Montana Runner is On the Road Again After Receiving Life-Saving Care at Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital
Just over a year ago, a routine training run turned into a life-changing moment for 13‑year‑old Maezie Brewer and her family from Billings, Montana.
When Maezie crossed a busy street in Billings, Montana, Maezie was struck by a moving vehicle.
Maezie’s mother, Jenay, had just dropped off some water for her and witnessed the accident.
“I had passed her and I looked in my rearview mirror. She stepped right in front of a car and it was going full speed,” said Jenay.
As fate would have it, an Intermountain Health flight nurse, Jeremy Vogle, was a bystander and responded to the scene while first responders were called.
Maezie was rushed to Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital with multiple injuries, including a serious head injury.
From the moment she arrived, a coordinated trauma team mobilized to stabilize Maezie and support her family during an uncertain and frightening time.
“Every step of the way, people were kind, knowledgeable and calm,” said Jenay Brewer. “They treated us like people, not just a case.”
Maezie’s injuries included a severe concussion, a brain bleed and multiple fractures.
Physicians, nurses, neurologists and therapists worked together closely, adjusting her care as her condition evolved and listening carefully to both Maezie and her family.
While in the pediatric intensive care unit at Intermountain St. Vincent, doctors closely monitored the swelling in Maezie’s brain following her injury, her care team made the decision to perform a specialized procedure to help relieve pressure and prevent further damage.
Because swelling from a head injury can peak several days after trauma, the team performed the procedure to draw fluid away from the brain and reduce pressure.
The treatment proved effective, helping stabilize her condition at a critical point in her recovery and avoiding the need for more invasive surgery.
“With head injuries, you never know what you’re going to see from one hour to the next,” Jenay said. “What amazed me was how the entire team communicated with each other.”
As Maezie began to recover, physical and occupational therapists helped her regain strength and mobility, while staff continued to support her emotional and spiritual needs, including moments that helped the family begin processing the trauma they had experienced.
“It felt like so much more than medical care,” Jenay said. “They created space for what we needed as a family.”
Intermountain St. Vincent music therapist, Brooke Wagner, also played an important role in her recovery and healing.
In the weeks following the accident, Maezie faced a long and uncertain recovery, gradually rebuilding her strength and confidence. With support from her care team, she progressed from needing a walker to regaining her independence, working closely with physical and occupational therapists who guided each step of her recovery.
Today, Maezie is thriving, back to running, training and setting new goals, including plans to run in a marathon in Billings in September, a testament to both her determination and the comprehensive, compassionate care that supported her every step of the way.
“It’s hard to believe how far she’s come, given how traumatic that day was.” Jenay said. “She’s doing amazing. She’s just super determined.”
Make a Call for Kids on June 1-6 is designed to help local kids, like Maezie, survive and thrive. Funds raised will benefit children’s services at Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital, home to the only pediatric intensive care unit and pediatric surgery program in eastern Montana.
To give please go to svhkids.org or call 406-237-KIDS or text KIDS to 32037.