Six Years Later, Japanese Patient Returns to Express Gratitude to Caregivers

As the doors of the Neuro Trauma Unit open, a smile comes over Mariko Hayase’s face. “It looks exactly the same. I remember that picture.” The 20-year-old from Japan spent nearly a month in the unit in 2010 and recently returned to see and thank those who cared for her.

Mariko and her family were among 14 people in a tour van heading to Bryce Canyon when the bus driver lost control of the van and it rolled several times. Three people, including Mariko’s brother, died. Eleven others were injured. Mariko was flown by Life Flight to Primary Children’s with fractures to her pelvis and clavicle, and a lot of bruises. Her parents were taken to Intermountain Medical Center.

Six years later, Mariko returned to Utah to visit the hospital and staff, and to see the sites she wasn’t able to because of the accident. “All the nurses were very kind. At night when things were slow, they brought board games to my room and played with me,” recalls Mariko. “I remember one of the nurses would take me around the hospital and to the Angel Garden where I got to see magpies.”

That nurse was Nicole Wolthuis, who stopped by to visit with Mariko. “It’s so rewarding to see how amazing she is doing and how much she has grown up,” says Nicole. “She was a really quiet and good patient.”

Mariko spent some time catching up with Nicole and other staff members before venturing to the room where she spent many weeks — room 2030 in Pod E. “I remember playing games with Tony in this room and him telling me about his pets.”

Tony Smith was one of the Child Life Specialists who helped Mariko while at Primary Children’s. Her father would often travel between the two hospitals visiting Mariko and her mother. Tony would spend time with Mariko, so she didn’t feel alone. “It’s wonderful to see her again and see how happy she is,” says Tony.

Mariko still has some scars on her arms from the accident, but is otherwise a healthy young woman. She’s now studying law in Japan. Mariko wanted everyone to know, “All I can say is thank you! Thank you to everyone who took care of me!”