Family Holds on to Faith after Fire Destroys Home

PIKE COUNTY, Ga. - Briana Hudson was in a terrible accident in 2011. Her doctors thought she would never walk again and be in a vegetative state for the rest of her life. Fighting hard, Briana defied the odds and is close to walking. Everything was looking up for the 8-year-old girl and her family until Tuesday when a fire tore through their home.

Briana’s family is no stranger to tragedy and it was that accident in 2011 that puts things into perspective.

"Briana died four times. When she came back the fourth time she had the stroke in her spine, at first they weren't sure if it was the spine or brain. If it had to be one I'm glad it was spine. They said she was going to be in vegetative state and mentally she's your typical 8-year-old," Briana’s mother, Denise Hudson told NewsRadio 106.7’s Christy Hutchings.

Following the accident, the community rallied to support the family. They provided the young girl with different devices to aid in her mobility and give her the best chance at recovery. Sunshine on a Ranney Day even surprised Briana with a new room designed specifically to allow her to navigate in a wheelchair.

But those were turned to ash after a fire tore through the family’s Pike County home. All of Briana’s equipment, including the braces that are helping her walk, was still in the home.

"Her FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation) bike, her RGOs (Reciprocating Gait Orthosis brace), walker, TSO, AFOs (Ankle-foot Orthoses walker), her e-STEM, all the patches, her catheters, it just goes on, and on," said Hudson.

Denise is staying strong and her inspiration isn’t far. She is holding fast to the faith of her little girl.

"She has so much faith; her strength has helped me so much through all of this," said Hudson.

A lot of the items that were destroyed in the fire are not covered by insurance. The family has set up an online drive to help them rebuild and keep Briana on the path to walking.

Anyone who wishes to help financially can donate at their Ride To Give webpage.