Community rallies to help Royse City girl critically injured in fireworks accident

UPDATE – July 11, 2016 -A Back-to-School BINGO fundraising event has been planned for 2 p.m. Sunday, August 21 at Big Sky Event Center, 7508 County Road 2584 in Royse City, to benefit eight-year-old Makenna Brown, whose eye was critically injured in a fireworks accident on July 3rd.

There will be a 10 game minimum, with dessert bar, snacks and soft drinks. This is a kid-friendly event.

RSVP to Kellye Robertson at kellyerrobertson@hotmail.com. Prize and silent auction items are needed. Send donations to PayPal at Tonyabb09@gmail.com.

See Makenna’s story below.

(ROYSE CITY, TX – July 7, 2016) Makenna Brown’s family is seeking prayers and support from the Royse City community as their daughter recovers from an accident on July 3.

While setting off fireworks to celebrate with her family, 8-year-old Makenna sustained a critical eye injury. According to a post by her family on facebook, a firework fell over and shot out at everyone, and she did not duck in time.

During a three-hour surgery doctors were able to close the wound in her eyeball, but she still faces a long road to recovery.

Makenna’s mother and Royse City Communtiy Development Board Secretary Tonya Brown said since her daughter’s eye socket is fractured, it must be repaired within two weeks of the initial injury to prevent infection from spreading. Yesterday Makenna visited three different ophthalmologists, and one said she will need a prosthetic eye. Tomorrow she has an appointment with a retina specialist where she will have a sonogram to determine if her eye is viable.

For today, Tonya Brown said, her daughter is trying to resume her typical joyful attitude.

“She is in really good spirits,” Brown said. “If it weren’t for the eye patch, you wouldn’t think anything was wrong. She’s an amazing little girl.”

Brown also urged fellow parents not to dismiss the hazards attached to fireworks.

“Parents should be aware and be careful of the dangers that come with fireworks,” Brown said. “We all grew up with them and know the risks, but until it happens to your child, you don’t fully appreciate how real it is.”

Royse City Chamber of Commerce President Julia Bryant said there will be a Bingo fundraiser to help with Makenna’s medical expenses at Big Sky Event Hall on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 2:00 p.m. Bryant said community members have already started donating food, drinks, prizes and silent auction items for the event.

Donations can be made directly to a Paypal account or to a checking account at Guaranty Bank under Tonya Brown—For the Benefit of Makenna Brown. A GoFundMe account has been set up in Makenna’s honor. For more information, contact Julia Bryant at 972-636-5000.

 Story by Julie Anne White, Blue Ribbon News reporter. 

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  eye injury, feature, fireworks, makenna brown, Royse City