Khali’s Story

Site created on August 29, 2019

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Here's what happened.

Khali was winding up her summer job in Great Barrington and getting ready to go back to college.
Then came the accident that caused injuries so severe that she required an eight-hour brain operation. She remained in a coma at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.
"It is a miracle," Ali Zabian said of his daughter's survival. "But she's far from out of the woods."
Khali Zabian, 19, was struck by an oncoming car about 10 p.m. Wednesday while standing in the northbound lane of Route 7 near Fountain Pond after she had hit some guardrails, police said.
Her prognosis is still unfolding; tests show that bleeding has led to damage to the right side of her brain, and a little bit on the left side.
"This translates to — not 100 percent — but a good chance she might lose the use of her left arm and leg and a little bit of speech," he said.
Zabian said that doctors will gradually begin to wake her up, a process that could take another week to 10 days.
"The next stage is rehab," he said.
She has been studying aerospace physiology at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., and wants to be a physician's aide, he said. "She loves biology. She's just a great kid."
In an interview with The Eagle, Zabian filled in some details about how Wednesday's incident unfolded, based on accounts he's heard from others at the scene.
The Lee High School grad had just gotten off work at Naji's restaurant in Great Barrington when it happened.
"She lost control of the car, and it was just one thing after another," he said.
After striking the guardrails, Khali called 911, and another motorist who had stopped to help her was standing in the lane, directing northbound traffic around her disabled car with his flashlight, he said. The man told her father that she was standing behind him as drivers slowed down to go around them — except one.
"The kids came barreling up the hill and not slowing down," he said. "When they saw what was going on they veered — veered into Khali."
The driver, a 17-year-old, did not realize he had struck someone, the man told Khali's father.
Police suspected the driver was high on marijuana. After administering a field sobriety test, police charged the teen with driving under the influence. Alcohol was not a factor, police said.

Newest Update

November 06, 2019

Journal entry by Anthony Perry —

This morning started off pretty good. I woke up did my new normal routine, got back from the gym took a shower and as I was getting ready to go the hospital I got a flashback of the night of Khalis accident. I felt like I couldn’t breath. The panic set into my chest. I grabbed my phone and called a friend to talk me down. I did calm down and started breathing again. It’s the third time since that night that that has happened to me. After I got off the phone I spent some time in prayer just working on getting my peace back, but all I could think about is how so many people have experienced trauma in their lives that cause them this kind of panic feeling. Im sorry you have to feel like this!! It did pass and I did surrender it to God I think I just wasn’t prepared for it. I was glad today was a very busy day:
We went to ear Dr to do a hearing test and talk about Khalis fractured bone in her ear. I think the test was not totally accurate because it was hard for her to stay focused. They did find that the partial hearing loss in her right ear is permanent. The bone does not need to be repaired and the hearing in the left ear is perfect.  He did say it’s something that can be addressed down the road if it really bothers her. I think overall that’s good news.
She had a great session on the LOKOmat, her reading during speech is improving this week and in OT they put the stim machine on her biceps which helped her tone a lot. She ate a little today again which is great and she did seem a bit clearer. Ali and Sina are coming tonight. I miss my Sina this week and of course it’s always good to see my Ali.
I’m grateful for great friends.
I’m grateful for Khalis progress
I’m grateful for all of you letting me share our journey with you and being so loving in return.
Read More of the journal titled "November 06, 2019"
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