Frontier student hurt in Scotland
Community rallies around family; mom rushing to visitBy Kate York, kyork@mariettatimes.com
Article Photos
A Frontier High School senior and varsity cheerleader is in a Scottish hospital after a fall Monday that broke her neck, with area residents scrambling to raise money to send her family to her side.
Mariah Steele, 17, of New Matamoras, was serving as a People to People student ambassador in New Lanark, Scotland, when she fell while on a hiking trip, crushing her pelvis, fracturing her hip and right arm and breaking her fingers and her neck in two places.
"She and three other kids were hiking near a ravine and she fell about 24 feet," said Steele's father, Rick. "She has a broken T2, which is a spinal cord injury, but she can move her hands and legs a little so that's a good sign. They're saying she'll have to stay in that hospital at least three weeks before she can move to one here."
Steele said he and his wife, Michelle, haven't yet been able to speak to their daughter, who is mostly sedated, but that she was able to send them a text message.
"She said she was sorry and not to be mad," Rick Steele said. "It brings tears to my eyes. She's such a good kid."
His wife was able to obtain an emergency passport Tuesday and plans to fly from the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport today to Washington, D.C., and on to Scotland, said Steele, while he stays home with their sons, ages 8 and 10. The boys are doing everything they can to help, even getting up early to make him coffee, Steele said.
"They're missing their sister so much... we're all worried and nervous," he said. "I feel like my feet are tied and I just can't get to her. I'd like to swim the ocean to get there right now if I could."
Steele said Mariah's doctors haven't yet said whether she will have permanent injuries from her fall.
"They haven't gone that far yet," he said.
As they wait for news, the community support has been tremendous and a comfort to the family, Steele said.
Local churches and organizations have offered donations and time while employees in the Frontier Local schools district office spent much of the day Tuesday making and receiving calls in an effort to raise money for the family. Funds are needed to cover the cost of Michelle Steele's trip and the ongoing costs for Mariah's care.
"We're just reaching out to everybody, and the phone has been ringing off the hook," said Alice Hurte, secretary to the Frontier superintendent. "This is heartbreaking. It's a really nice family and Mariah is a lovely girl."
Donations for the family are being accepted at The Peoples Savings Bank and can be sent to the bank care of the Help Mariah Fund, 710 Second St., New Matamoras, Ohio, 45767. A Web site, www.helpmoriah.com, has also been established as a way to give donations, and there is a fund at Ormet, where Rick Steele works.
Hurte said in addition to parents and community members, several of the high school's student organizations have given donations for Mariah, who is well-known at the school and in the community.
"Mariah is just an angel - a tall, blonde, smiling beauty who is always alight," said Mike Webber, the Steele family's pastor and longtime friend. "She's an athlete, very bright and has friends everywhere she goes. She's that kind of girl."
The teen had been extremely excited about the People to People trip, said her father, and had already spent two weeks visiting England, Ireland and Wales before traveling to Scotland.
"We were all so excited about this, especially Mariah," said Rick Steele. "The first week she took like 600 pictures. You just never know what's going to happen."
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SunshineMom
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08-17-09 4:23 PM
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As part of the settlement of my family's lawsuit against Ambassadors Group, docleaf, et al., I have been asked to request that your company remove statements from your website that may characterize, impugn, threaten, defame or disparage the defendants. ****tylerhill****
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SunshineMom
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08-17-09 4:22 PM
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As part of the settlement of my family's lawsuit against Ambassadors Group, etal I have am asked to request that your company remove statements from your website that may characterize, impugn, threaten, defame or disparage the defendants. The following correctly states the current state of the matter between the parties and may be used in place of any removed comments: Wrongful Death Lawsuit for Tyler R. Hill Against Ambassadors Group, docleaf, et al., Officially Settled MOUND, Minn., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Allen and Sheryl Hill of Mound, Minn., today announced the official settlement of their civil action for wrongful death of their 16-year-old son, Tyler Hill; invasion of privacy; and fraud against Ambassadors Group Inc., People to People International, docleaf Ltd. and other individuals. The Hills signed the release on July 30. The terms of the settlement are confidential. Tyler died on a People to People Student Ambassador Trip to Japan on June 29, 2007. ****tylerhill****
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SunshineMom
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07-19-08 7:21 PM
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Dear Friends and Family of Mariah, I am sorry to hear about Mariah's accident. People to People should be paying and expediting your way to support her. Our son Tyler Hill, died on a People to People trip to Japan June 2007. His death was 100% preventable. You can read our wrongful death lawsuit and complaints filed against People to People at ****tylerhill**** We are working to pass legislation that will create safety standards and sanctions for injury or death when children travel abroad. There are none today. PTP promotes a solid safety record even after our son's death. They sent an internal spy to counsel us and then used our mental health reports to stage their internal investigations, essentially blaming our son for his death. I have some tough questions. Why was Mariah hiking where she could fall so far? According to our lawsuit, PTP contacted their attorney and insurance company before Ty was ever taken to a Dr. I recommend an attorney. Peace
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Mttagirl
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07-09-08 11:55 PM
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My prayers are with the Steele family I hope their daughter gets well.
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PastorMike
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07-09-08 10:51 PM
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The Ohio Valley Community Credit Union in Marietta is located in the same strip mall as the movie theatre, Applebees, and Arbys. Please give us some time to set up the account fund so that your generous donations are directed appropriately.
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KarenD
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07-09-08 7:42 PM
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Our thoughts and prayers are with Mariah and her family. Please continue to keep the leaders, and other students in Mariah's delegation in constant prayer also.
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opinion8ed
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07-09-08 5:10 PM
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pastormike which credit union in marietta? i'm pretty sure michelle is a member of southeastern ohio credit union because i've seen her over there on payday.
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PastorMike
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07-09-08 4:50 PM
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Thank You for asking about places to make donations. Tomorrow we will activate a fund for Mariah at the Ohio Valley Community Credit Union. This will give us several locations, including one in Marietta that can receive your donations for the family.
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dude01
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07-09-08 12:33 PM
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Newsnut & others - I don't know if you can donate in Marietta yet, but you can make donations at the Peoples Savings Bank in Newport or New Mat. You can also donate online with a hot link @ wtap****, a secure site at helpmoriah****, or participate in a Pampered Chef fundraiser at ***********pamperedchef.biz/kimfulkerson and type "Mariah Steele" as the hostess. Be sure to select direct delivery if you do this option!
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newportresident
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07-09-08 11:54 AM
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Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family. I have know Mariah since she was a very small girl watching her grow into quite a wonderful woman. May God lay his hands on Mariah, and continue to bless her.
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tigerfan
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07-09-08 11:39 AM
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I know what it is like to not be able to get to one of your children, it is heart wrenching. I pray for your wifes' saftey and fast recovery for your daughter.
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newsnut
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07-09-08 11:35 AM
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were can you donate in Marietta?
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PastorMike
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07-09-08 10:13 AM
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It is 10:08 am and I just spoke to Rick, Mariah's Father. Mariah was transferred to a hospital that specializes in head and neck trauma. A caregiver staying with Mariah phoned Rick to tell him that they cannot find the fracture in T2. Rick is rejoicing at the miracle God has done. He said prayers have gone up from Newport, St. Marys, New Matamoras and all over our area but there in Scotland Mariah received her healing. The other injuries to her hip, pelvis, arm and hand are still serious and painful but the focused prayers of the people of God has resulted in a miracle in Mariah's spinal cord and thoracic vertebrae.
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PastorMike
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07-09-08 9:52 AM
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Rick is so overwhelmed by your support and love. Pray for him and for Michelle as they learn to live with this new challenge and all the stress that comes with it. Thank you for your generosity that will help so very much in the days ahead. Please tell Mariah's friends to comfort one another as you know Mariah would offer that loving gesture to you.
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Angela415
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07-09-08 9:16 AM
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I heard this story this morning on WTAP News and I have donated money to help. I challenge EVERYONE in the area to donate at least $5.00 and to ALSO spread the word to eveyone they know so that they too can donate. I wasn't able to donate alot, but I was able to spare a few dollars. God bless.
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Buckyes1
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07-09-08 9:12 AM
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My thoughts and prayers are with the Steele family
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