Baylor freshman fulfilling music dreams after tragic accident, amputation

Baylor freshman fulfilling music dreams after tragic accident, amputation
Buy Now Ritzi, 18, and three other student musicians were in a devastating single-vehicle traffic wreck July 29 on State Highway 7 while headed to the International Clarinet Association conference at Louisiana State University. Baylor music graduate Laura Ezinwa Onwudinanti, 21, and junior John Patrick “Jack” Stewart Jr., 19, were killed in the crash, while Ritzi and the driver, Jake Hale, 21, were taken by ambulance to Baylor Scott & White in Temple because of their extensive injuries. Ritzi was in a coma after suffering a concussion, dislocated hip, torn knee tendons and numerous broken bones, including a shattered pelvis. Metal rods were installed to hold her left ankle and left femur in place, and her anterior cruciate ligament was removed from her left knee. Baylor University freshman Megan Ritzi removes her prosthetic leg while doing stretching exercises at the McLane Student Life Center on campus. She works out once or twice a week to make both legs stronger and improve flexibility. Baylor University freshman Megan Ritzi plays the clarinet during a lesson with her professor Jun Qian. Ritzi’s lower right leg was amputated after a July car accident in which two Baylor clarinetists were killed. Her injuries and rehabilitation forced her to miss her first semester, but she began her music studies this spring. Jun Qian, assistant professor of clarinet at Baylor, taught Onwudinanti and Stewart and had developed a bond with Ritzi, who’d spent extensive time connecting with music school faculty and attended summer music camps at the university before deciding to commit to Baylor. The music school went on to host two memorial concerts during the fall semester, and the woodwind ensemble group dedicated a performance at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago in December to Onwudinanti and Stewart. Qian said he frequently visited Ritzi during the two weeks she was hospitalized at Baylor Scott & White, and continued to maintain contact with her throughout her rehabilitation. He also secured the donation of two new clarinets worth $11,000 for Ritzi from Selmer Company, a Paris-based clarinet and saxophone manufacturer he works with as a featured artist. Ritzi said she owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Michael Brennan, director of orthopedics at Baylor Scott & White, who headed the team that “basically reconstructed my entire lower body.” More than 100 nurses tended to her during her 15-day stay. After she was released, Ritzi spent two weeks at the Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation in Dallas for treatment, then continued with outpatient rehab and physical therapy. Baylor University freshman Megan Ritzi is described by one of her professors as strong, with a beautiful personality. “She always feels so optimistic about her life, and that actually really helped encourage me to be a stronger person as well through this tragedy,” said Jun Qian, associate professor of clarinet at Baylor. Original article and pictures take http://www.wacotrib.com/news/higher_education/baylor-freshman-fulfilling-music-dreams-after-tragic-accident-amputation/article_612e92ca-6dd5-57b2-9b46-3ed19b1ad780.html site