Eastland Man Defies Odds; Speaks to KRBC for First Time After Hit-and-Run Accident
By: Marlisa Goldsmith
Updated: January 11, 2013
Mitch Riffle's life changed instantly after a hit-and-run accident on Ranger Hill in June 2012.
"Everything was fine that day and then that night, you're hearing that he may never wake up," explains his youngest daughter, Lindsay Riffle.
Frightening moments for the Riffle family as they watched their husband and father in the hospital suffering from a traumatic brain injury, a broken leg and a torn lung.
As Mitch's wife, Kay, explains, Mitch was not expected to make it.
Kay says, "By the injuries he should not even be alive. And he certainly should not be walking and talking so it's just a miracle. The only way I can describe it."
Seven months after his accident, he is up and talking again.
Mitch returned to his home in Eastland about a week and a half ago as a walking miracle and he is making great strides in his recovery.
He may be taking big steps, but it has not come easily.
"It's been rough," Mitch says.
His brain injury has impaired his ability to form thoughts completely. Although it is sometimes sad for his family to watch, they somehow find humor in it all.
"There's never a dull moment in this household," Lindsay says, jokingly.
One thing the family does take a little more seriously is showing their affection toward each other.
Mitch says, "I tell them that I love them."
That love goes far beyond the Riffle household. While Mitch was in the hospital people from all over the country sent their condolences, and the day the family returned home, Kay's employer sent a work crew to their home to build a wheelchair accessible ramp.
"It made us feel helpful at least that we could be doing something to help her out and help them out in some sort of way," Kay's coworker, Jessika Martin, explains.
"I don't know how we would have survived. Without them, their kindness and generosity," Kay adds.
Although this journey has been an uphill battle, each day Mitch is one step closer to defying the odds.
"Everything was fine that day and then that night, you're hearing that he may never wake up," explains his youngest daughter, Lindsay Riffle.
Frightening moments for the Riffle family as they watched their husband and father in the hospital suffering from a traumatic brain injury, a broken leg and a torn lung.
As Mitch's wife, Kay, explains, Mitch was not expected to make it.
Kay says, "By the injuries he should not even be alive. And he certainly should not be walking and talking so it's just a miracle. The only way I can describe it."
Seven months after his accident, he is up and talking again.
Mitch returned to his home in Eastland about a week and a half ago as a walking miracle and he is making great strides in his recovery.
He may be taking big steps, but it has not come easily.
"It's been rough," Mitch says.
His brain injury has impaired his ability to form thoughts completely. Although it is sometimes sad for his family to watch, they somehow find humor in it all.
"There's never a dull moment in this household," Lindsay says, jokingly.
One thing the family does take a little more seriously is showing their affection toward each other.
Mitch says, "I tell them that I love them."
That love goes far beyond the Riffle household. While Mitch was in the hospital people from all over the country sent their condolences, and the day the family returned home, Kay's employer sent a work crew to their home to build a wheelchair accessible ramp.
"It made us feel helpful at least that we could be doing something to help her out and help them out in some sort of way," Kay's coworker, Jessika Martin, explains.
"I don't know how we would have survived. Without them, their kindness and generosity," Kay adds.
Although this journey has been an uphill battle, each day Mitch is one step closer to defying the odds.
