Ben Lippen senior Jessica Kolp making inspirational strides after serious car accident
.jpg "Ben Lippen’s Jessica Kolp, left, and her mother Cheryl pose for a photo after Jessica threw out the first pitch of the Falcons game against Cardinal Newman.")
Almost two months after Jessica Kolp’s life changed, a little bit of normalcy is starting to come back.
Kolp was wearing her black No. 11 jersey and back with her Ben Lippen softball teammates Tuesday as they took on Cardinal Newman, albeit in a different role than she’s used to. The senior wasn’t at her usual spot covering first base, but just being back on the field was something that didn’t seem possible after a car accident nearly took her life Jan. 26.
With her teammates lined up along the third-base line, Kolp walked out to the pitcher’s circle and threw a ceremonial first pitch before the start of the game.
“When I got here at like 3-ish, I thought, ‘This sucks. I’m wearing a jersey, but leggings and not my uniform,’ ” Kolp said after the game. “It was a reality check but I enjoyed it a lot, throwing out the first pitch … and happy to be out there with the team.”
Ben Lippen coach Bryan Jones was happy to have Jessica back with the team. The Falcons played inspired with an 11-1 win over SCISA 3A runner-up Cardinal Newman. It was the program’s first win in several years over the Cardinals.
The Falcons’ players each have Kolp’s No. 11 on the back of their batting helmets, and they brought Jessica a photo album while she was at Shepherd Center for rehabilitation in Atlanta.
“Very emotional to start with. We knew she was coming back to school today and was going to be here. That was an outstanding win on her first night back,” Jones said. “It was just amazing. Her being around, I just love her leadership. It was a big loss without her being here. But her leadership and camaraderie with the girls, it is just a wonderful group of young ladies in the dugout.”
Cheryl Kulp, Jessica’s mother, took video of her daughter’s first pitch and held the first-pitch ball in her hand during the game. She watched from the stands as people stopped by to talk to her, while Jessica sat in the dugout with her teammates.
A few times during the game, people made their way into the dugout to give Jessica hugs and offer their support. Jessica sat down early in the game but later stood by the fence, cheering and giving her teammates encouragement.
“Prior to my accident, I was always the loudmouth, always the one cheering. Gotta keep it going,” Jessica said.
Tuesday was Kolp’s first day back at school since the accident. She returned to Columbia on Friday from Shepherd Center, where the family had been since Feb. 18. Cheryl Kolp said her daughter went to school for a half-day and spent time in the library when she didn’t have classes.
“Good feeling to have her back in somewhat of a routine. That was a good part of normalcy. This is part of her world, so this is normal for her,” Cheryl said. “Not being out on the field, I’m sure that is killing her. She has come to terms with it.
“She was super happy to be on the field with her teammates. I know it was a big thing for her, so that made me ecstatic for her. It could have been a lot worse. It is a blessing she is out here today.”
According to the family, doctors said Kolp has to stay away from sports for a year and avoid any hits to her head and brain area. Kolp’s brain was one of the many injuries she suffered in the accident.
The wreck occurred at Elmwood and Main streets in downtown Columbia on the night of Jan. 26. A car driven by someone fleeing police at a speed of 115 mph hit Kolp’s vehicle, according to Cheryl Kolp’s CaringBridge first journal entry. The impact was so severe, it broke the engine of Kolp’s car into several pieces.
Antonio Henderson, 36, was charged with two counts of felony DUI resulting in great bodily injury a court appearance Feb. 12, according to a report from WIS-TV, and was accused of driving a stolen vehicle in the incident.
Jessica was taken to Prisma Health Richland Hospital after the accident and was treated for multiple broken bones, including skull and facial fractures, and broken femurs, pelvis and clavicle. She’s also had major blood vessels that were repaired along her right femur and carotid.
“No parent wants to get that phone call that your child has been injured in a major car accident,” Cheryl Kolp said.
Jessica had her first surgery Feb. 1 and has made slow progress ever since. She can only hear out of one of her ears and needs one more surgery to help there. According to the family, doctors said it will likely be two years before she regains her complete memory.
Jessica has occupational, speech and physical therapy three days a week for the next several weeks. The rehab continues what she started at Shepherd, where he worked with therapists five to seven hours a day Monday through Friday and three hours on Saturday. There was no rehab on Sundays so Jessica could rest.
“Our big joke was, I just feel like a baby again,” Jessica said. “Everything was repetitive, but I enjoyed it a lot. I was thankful for all my therapists and all of the different aspects. It helped a lot and they all were so supportive.”
Jessica and her mom said they have been blown away by the care they have received at Prisma and Shepherd and the outpouring of support from so many from the Midlands.
Schools from around the area and across the state have been involved in raising money. There were T-shirts and pins made and more than $50,000 was raised in a GoFundMe account in her honor. Ben Lippen’s wrestling team dedicated their state championship victory to her last month.
Local musician Brian Bohlman even wrote a song for Jessica called ”Pray for Jessica (The Longing).”
“We went from the accident to watching her wake up, to taking that first step, to watching her remember things,” Cheryl said. “It is continued forward progress, praise God.”
This story was originally published March 16, 2022 at 9:39 AM.
