My twin is in a coma.

I mentioned my sister, Ashley, and how she is in a nursing home so I figured I should probably explain.

On November 11, 2009 around 11pm Ashley was driving home from work and wrecked. She was over a hill and no one could see her. Our father and Uncle searched for her and found her using the spotlight they search for deer with. It had been about 4 hours since she wrecked. They went to the car, assuming she was dead. She was barely hanging on. The Shannock Valley Volunteer Fire Department were the first to respond. My dad and uncle have said that they were the most wonderful bunch of guys ever. She was life flighted to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. She had suffered a traumatic brain injury. Her jaw was also broken and she had some cuts and bruises. As badly as the car was smashed it should have been even worse. She spent about a month in the Neurological Intensive Care Unit(NICU). She spent another month in a step-down unit there until she was moved to a specialty care center in Latrobe. She was there for a month and then was moved to a nursing home in Greensburg. She has been at the nursing home since.

She is not able to talk, sit up, walk, eat, or really do anything. Some days she is very alert. She will try to talk and has said "HI". Sometimes, mainly for our dad, she will move her arms and point at things. No one knows why she wrecked. She had just graduated from IUP's Culinary School and was doing and internship at the Butler Country club. She had to drive an hour and 15 minutes to and from work. She is also engaged.

Ashley in January, getting a visit from Michael and I.

Although she is sometimes alert, she is still technically in a coma. If you would like to know more about her story visit her website at www.caringbridge.org/visit/ashleystadtmiller.

Ash with her fiance, Drew.

Ash and her first deer.