A seven-year-old tomboy who loves to play with animals and always has a quick-witted comeback, Maelyn Cartee is always on the move.
Unfortunately, the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 30, Cartee was trampled by a cow at her Russellville farm.
She had gone out to play, to catch the last few minutes of daylight before curfew. When she didn't return, her family found her in the nearby pasture.
Cartee was taken to University Hospital, Columbia, then transferred Thursday to the ICU at St. Louis Children's Hospital, where her aunt Mandy Evers said they expect her to stay for awhile.
A fund to benefit the family has been established at Community Point Bank to help offset the anticipated medical bills, as well as the travel expense to and from St. Louis.
As of Sunday, Cartee was responding to tests and her swelling is going down.
"These are all baby steps, but that is what it takes," Evers said. "She still has a very long road ahead of her, but she's a fighter, she will get through this."
The initial head trauma caused a stroke on Cartee's left side. But she has no other wounds, Evers said.
Her parents are Michelle Cotton and Danny Cartee. She has two older sisters, an older brother and a younger sister.
Cartee was studying at CCD (confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classes at her church to take have her first confession and first communion later this year, Evers said.
"She's one of those kids who runs around without her shoes on as long as she can before winter," Evers said. "She likes catching field mice and she has quite an imagination."
She is a second-grader at Russellville Elementary School.
Handmade cards from her fellow students were delivered to the hospital by teachers and administration Wednesday.
"That was very sweet," Ever said. "I read her all of the cards and notes the students sent. The cards from the second graders made me laugh and cry."
In addition to the school's support, members of the Russellville community have reached out with support, asking what they can do or how to pray, Evers said.
That's why she opened the Community Point Bank account.
Evers said the family also would welcome gas cards and get-well notes, which they could read to Cartee.
"We truly appreciate everybody who is thinking and praying for her," Evers said. "This is honestly the hardest thing our family has ever been through. It's hard to see her this way.
"I remind her of all of her Maelyneisms. Every time I leave her room I look at all the pictures I have of her with her wild curly hair."