KAYLA KILEY | CADILLAC NEWS
Roo Miller of Cadillac helps her 8-year-old son Skylar take off his back brace. About one month ago, Skylar was in a car accident along with his brother and grandmother. Skylar fractured some vertebrae, had back surgery, and experienced a concussion that left him with one lazy eye and seeing double. Doctors expect a full recovery.
KAYLA KILEY | CADILLAC NEWS
Skylar Miller, 8 of Cadillac, reads a football-themed card that was sent to him while he was in the hospital. Skylar recently was in a car accident along with his brother and grandmother. The 8 year old had to have multiple surgeries. The Kenwood Elementary School boy says "Hi!" and "Thank you" to everyone who sent him and his family cars, money, support and prayers while he recovers from injuries.
KAYLA KILEY | CADILLAC NEWS
Skylar Miller, 8 of Cadillac, holds his prized possession: a football that the Cadillac High School varsity football team and coaches signed for he and his brother. Skylar hides it in the closet so his dogs won't use it as a toy. The coaches gave the boys footballs during a benefit dinner for the boys a few weeks ago.
Young brothers in accident home, family thanks community
By Kayla Kiley
CADILLAC - Life for two Cadillac brothers usually means football, wrestling and adventures in the woods, but that’s not the case today for the young boys.
In fact, they’re lucky to be alive.
Skyler Miller, 8, and Thomas Miller, 9, were sent to the hospital with injuries after being involved in a car accident on Oct. 27 in Marion.
The brothers, who attend Kenwood Elementary School in Cadillac, were riding as passengers with their grandmother, Carmoneta Romatz of Marion, who is in her mid-50s, when Romatz’s vehicle collided head-on with another vehicle just before noon at the intersection of M-115 and 20 Mile Road.
Today, Thomas has a cast on his broken ankle and is back at school. Skylar is home after a long stay in ICU at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids; wearing a back brace, Skylar will return to school on Monday. Romatz recently came home after being in ICU at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.
Since Skylar is now home, the boys’ father returned to work this week; when the accident happened, both parents stopped working in order to care for their only children.
This Thanksgiving was "unlike any other," said the boys’ mother Roo Miller.
"We didn’t expect Skylar home for Thanksgiving," Roo said. "But he healed so fast that he is able to be home - it’s a miracle of God."
Roo thanks the community for its support, noting that without it she can’t imagine making it through the emotional and financial stress of the accident and its repercussions.
"The whole community - people who we’ve never met - sent us cards, donations and prayers," said Roo, noting that the boys also received cards from people they don’t know in Texas, California, Hawaii and Italy.
This Thanksgiving, Roo said she and her family put their differences aside, and together they celebrated life and its blessings.
"It was very emotional for our whole family, and by far one of the best Thanksgivings," said Roo, noting more than 20 relatives were at the Thanksgiving table. "Our family has come closer and realized what might not be there the next holiday. We’ve got a lot to be thankful for."
Roo said the community has "touched the hearts" of her family.
"They’ve touched us in ways that we didn’t think was there," she said. "We’re honored to be in a community that’s this caring and giving and pulls together like this.
"I can’t say thank you enough," Roo said. "I never thought that there were this many people willing to lend support to a family that they don’t know - the whole community aspect of this city, we didn’t get it until the accident happened.
"With all the prayers, cards, support and actual community, this is not your average city - it’s people willing to help other people," Roo continued.
The passenger of the other vehicle involved in the crash died as a result of the accident. As of earlier this month, the Osceola Sheriff’s Office said they were not yet releasing information about the other people involved in the accident because "the investigation is ongoing." Police who could answer to media were not available to give an update on the crash.
kkiley@cadillacnews.com | 775-NEWS (6397)
ABOUT THEIR INJURIES
Cadillac Miller brothers Skylar, 8, and Thomas, 9, were injured in a car accident on Oct. 27.
Skylar had to have 6 to 8 inches of his small intestine removed and repair work to his large intestine; he also fractured some vertebrae, had back surgery, and experienced a concussion that left him with one lazy eye and seeing double - but doctors say the eye will soon return to normal.
Thomas suffered a broken ankle.
Romatz recently came home after being in ICU at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, where she had to have surgery on her pelvis, knee, ankle and heel; she is in a wheel chair temporarily.
