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The Phi Delta Theta Fraternity at Dickinson College is hosting a fund-raiser for Stephy Bailes at the Nov. 1 homecoming game. “We’re hoping to raise $700 to buy a new set of tires for the van to make the ride easier for Stephy,” said Joel Meredith, philanthropy chairman.

The fraternity will have a table set up to accept donations of paper towels, liquid soap, laundry detergent and other items and will be on hand to accept cash donations. Monetary donations may also be made through PayPal at http://alpha.dickinson.edu/storg/phidelt/index.htm.

By Andrea Ciccocioppo, Sentinel Reporter, October 27, 2008

Last updated: Monday, October 27, 2008 1:58 PM EDT

Seven years ago, Stephanie Bailes was involved in a car crash on her way to school.

Her side of the vehicle was hit by a pick-up truck. The car’s roof collapsed. Bailes, then 11, was trapped inside, barely breathing. She was flown to Penn State Hershey Medical Center with severe head trauma, a mangled right leg and a broken wrist.

Bailes endured nine hours of surgery and the doctors told the family that if her condition didn’t improve, she would be declared brain dead.

But she survived and spent a year and a half in a coma.

“They said she’d never wake up,” recalls Kim Wolf, Bailes’ mother.

But Wolf wasn’t going to give up on her daughter. The South Middleton woman quit her job and brought Bailes home, transforming part of their home into a skilled nursing facility.

Since then, life has been filled with doctor appointments, medicine doses, therapy and round-the-clock care for the teen. The family makes more than 40 trips to Hershey each year for doctor appointments.

“She has no self-help skills, she can’t do anything for herself,” Wolf said. “It’s hard. We are lucky we’ve had a community that helps support us.”

Bailes, who joined her Boiling Springs High School Class of 2007 on stage at graduation, still receives an education through the district. She gets speech, music therapy and occupational therapy in her home.

In 2005, Bailes seemed to be making progress. She was able to stand with the help of a special weight-bearing walker. But her bones began to break and she was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis.

In August, Bailes suffered a seizure and was taken back to Hershey. “For an hour and a half, she did not look at me or smile,” Wolf said. “I prayed she wasn’t brain-dead.”

Again, Bailes came back. Now 19, she smiles and laughs at the antics of her dog, Twister. She enjoys being read to. She plays bingo and can do some sign language.

“We’ve advanced from playing matching games to games we play with her,” Wolf said. She’s even beginning to make noises and “sing.”

“She’s gotten so healthy,” Wolf said.

And there are new steps all the time.

“We don’t know what she knows until we do it and we’re amazed,” Wolf said.

Despite the periodic downs, there’s no sadness or regret in the home. In fact, it’s filled with joy.

“As hard as it gets, there are great things that happen and great things in life,” Wolf said with a grin.

“I don’t think about the fact that she cannot walk, talk or even eat food but is fed through a tube in her stomach,” Wolf said. “I think I still have a beautiful daughter who by all aspects seems healthy and happy and I love her.”

Wolf credits local volunteers and organizations who have helped the family along the way — the Boiling Springs Lions Club; the Hearts and Hands group; Dickinson College’s Phi Delta Theta; and a host of local churches and others who pray, provide supplies or help out.

“All these people and organizations are so good for my soul, because it tells me my daughter has not been forgotten,” Wolf said.