DeSoto Falls hiker overcomes odds to recovery

By Ehron Ostendorf / The Nugget  ---------------  Angelique Kellum, known as “Lica” to friends and family, is on a steady journey to recovery after her accident at DeSoto Falls on Saturday, July 23. She has defied odds, filling her loved ones with hope.
“Her personality and character haven’t deterred [since the accident],” said Jeremy Cortez, Lica Kellum’s older brother. “The fight and strength she has are incredible.”
The 29-year-old, her husband Brandon Kellum and a friend decided to celebrate an upcoming move with a camping trip in the mountains. They settled on the serene Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest as their destination being only over three hours from their home in Birmingham, Ala.
The night before the accident, Lica texted her family, saying how they were roasting marshmallows and enjoying the trip. Since Jeremy and his wife, Raquel Cortez, live in San Diego, Lica described the beauty of Northern Georgia. Lica told Jeremy he would love it if he visited and seemed in high spirits.
Having recently graduated from Navy boot camp, Lica was on her way to being an active sailor by mid-August. To maintain her fitness routine, she went on a jog the very morning of her accident. After her run, Lica messaged her family about her party’s plan to spend the rest of their Saturday hiking.
They chose the iconic DeSoto Falls as their destination and hiked their way through the forest. When they arrived at the falls, they noticed fellow hikers relaxing near the waterfall’s top, an area which is off-limits. So Lica, Brandon, and Marissa climbed up to enjoy the cascading waters with others.
After a day of activity in the Georgia heat, resting in the cool waters was a refreshing relief. When they decided to leave, Lica attempted to stand up to exit. Unfortunately, she lost her footing and began slipping down the sloped rock of the falls. Lica quickly gained momentum from the rushing waters and fell multiple tiers of the waterfall.

FIGHTING SPIRIT

With an approximately 90-foot drop, Lica landed on a tree, her thick hair providing some cushion upon impact. The current continued to pull her down, but Brandon jumped into the waters and stabilized her. As a sailor in the Navy for 11 years, Brandon provided crucial support to save Lica.
A nurse who happened to be hiking that day plunged into the waters after them. She placed her knees under Lica’s feet, stabilizing her against the water’s force. Additional hikers in the vicinity sprang into action, too. These good samaritans and Marissa chopped and sawed trees to make room for medics to arrive.
Emergency responders arrived via helicopter at 3:09 p.m., nearly an hour after a fellow hiker, James Hobson, dialed 911. The rescue was a joint effort of Lumpkin County Emergency Services, Lumpkin County Fire Department, the Georgia State Patrol, the Department of Natural Resources, and the LCSO.
Medical personnel airlifted Lica to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where her original prognosis was bleak. A first responder, Dustin, observed her strength, saying she was a fighter.
“Her training and health saved her,” said Raquel.
Jeremy learned of Lica’s accident from his mother who called him while he drove to a friend’s bonfire. He comforted his mother as he immediately turned his car around to return home. Jeremy and Raquel had to find a last-minute flight from San Diego to Georgia. They secured tickets and were able to arrive within hours of the accident’s occurrence.
“When she [Lica] saw me, she called out ‘Lele,’ my nickname,” said Jeremy. “It was hard to see my sister like that.”
Jeremy recalled the state of confusion and trauma his younger sister was experiencing when he and other family members arrived. Lica had sustained a traumatic brain injury, a broken hip, a broken knee cap, and a broken tailbone. She also suffered a dislocated clavicle with multiple injured vertebrae and fractured ribs.
Lica underwent a four-hour life-saving surgery to relieve pressure in her brain. The doctors had a bleak outlook as to her recovery chances, but she exceeded all expectations in the first 72 hours since the accident. Lica is currently undergoing therapy to relearn how to speak, eat, and walk due to the brain injury.

‘AN OVER-COMER’

Even though she has experienced a great deal of pain, Lica has been able to share a few sentences. She was conscious for many of the days surrounding her surgeries, surprising the nursing staff. Lica noted how unfair the accident felt, but was heartened by the outpouring of support from friends, family, and all the skillful medical staff.
Doctors were able to remove her from sedation after a little over a week of the accident to increase her responsiveness. And after only a week and a half since the incident, Lica stabilized enough to eat and drink on her own.
Surgeons removed the staples from Lica’s head and performed successful vertebrae surgery. They utilized Lica’s own bone marrow and placed temporary pins to cushion each vertebra. Lica exited the ICU on Wednesday, August 10, and was strong enough to talk, brush her teeth, and walk up to 20 steps.
“I am an over-comer,” said Lica Kellum. “I can get through this.”
All of Lica’s loved ones have since gathered in the hospital to support her. Jeremy noted that her husband hasn’t left her side since the accident, staying the night and grabbing showers at the hospital to be with her. Her family said she’s in God’s hands, and they believe she’ll fully heal one day.
“We want to thank the good samaritans, the first responders, and STICU,” said Raquel. “We have experienced an outpouring of love from the North Georgia community, and we’re grateful.”
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There is a GoFundMe to support Brandon and Lica as they’re relocating from Birmingham, Alabama to Atlanta, Georgia for her rehabilitation. Lica has been active in community outreach and is pleased by the outpour of support. Lica’s family and friends ask for continued prayers and financial support as she has a long road of recovery ahead.
You can find Lica’s GoFundMe here at Help Heal Lica.