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Rice Twp. mother, daughters reunited

The Citizens' Voice - 8/31/2017

Aug. 31--RICE TWP. -- Separated since a car ran into them Friday, Nina Herbst and her two injured daughters reunited Wednesday at a Danville hospital after her condition was upgraded to "fair."

"In good news, they were able to take Nina's bed to pediatrics to see the girls for the first time," said Jennifer Bowden, a cousin who has been releasing details about the family's slow recovery on a website raising money for them.

Better news followed later in the day, as the children, Tessa, an infant, and Ella, 5, were released from the hospital, Bowden said.

Herbst, 37, reunited with the girls Wednesday at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, where they were airlifted Friday after their family was struck by a driver on Aleksander Boulevard in Rice Twp.

The family reunion in the hospital occurred on Ella's fifth birthday.

"Ella needed that, as she missed her mommy," Bowden said.

Herbst, her husband, Bryan, their four children and a niece were severely injured Friday afternoon when they were struck while taking a walk in their neighborhood in Polonia Estates.

"Nina started eating soft foods today, and worked with (physical therapy). She was very sore and had a lot of pain. I reminded her that she and Bryan clearly took the brunt of it to protect the children, and that she is enduring this pain so that her children don't have to," Bowden said Wednesday.

Bryan Herbst, 35, remained hospitalized in fair condition Wednesday at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Twp., a hospital spokeswoman said.

"Bryan has been scheduled for two more surgeries this week, and is so positive, though it hurts not to be with his family," Bowden said.

The couple's other two children, Tyler, 7, and Caden, 6, and their niece, Gabrielle Carlin, 8, were previously released from medical care.

Earlier in the week, Bowden offered better news about 8-month-old Tessa, who was unresponsive immediately after the impact.

"Good News! Baby Tessa was doing well, and continuing to eat, so she moved from ICU (intensive care unit) and is now closer to her sister. Ella is working with (physical therapy) and is making slow but steady progress," Bowden wrote.

As of Wednesday evening, hundreds of people had donated more than $47,000 on the youcaring.com website that is raising funds for the family.

"We are eternally grateful for your continued support and cannot possibly thank you enough," Wednesday's post concludes.

Contact the writer:

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2055, @cvbobkal

To help, visit: www.youcaring.com/ninabryanherbstfamilycarlinfamily-914112#.WaGGaC0IQ-A.facebook

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(c)2017 The Citizens' Voice (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.)

Visit The Citizens' Voice (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) at citizensvoice.com

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