Tara Dilley’s August morning bike ride began like any other. An accomplished athlete who played every sport in her small-town high school, cycling had become a cornerstone of her fitness routine. But everything changed at a stop sign 20 miles into her ride on a country road.
While Tara waited at an intersection, a car stopped short, cut the wheels, and struck Tara head-on, launching her into a fight for survival. The collision tested not only her physical resilience but her entire spirit.
“Your first thought when you get hit is, ‘Why would somebody want to kill me?’” Tara said. “Then your fight-or-flight response kicks in.” That survival instinct proved crucial as she held onto the vehicle’s grille guard, desperately trying to avoid being pulled under the wheels.
The extent of her injuries was severe — a completely severed quad tendon, extensive leg trauma, and a broken wrist. Miraculously, Tara remained conscious. She was airlifted to a Houston hospital to begin her lengthy medical journey. Her knee injury — a 20-centimeter (8-inch) laceration exposing her knee joint with muscle and tissue severely damaged — required immediate surgical intervention.
“She had a traumatic injury to her right knee, where the skin, muscle, and tendons around the knee were torn open,” said Stephen Warner, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at UT Physicians Orthopedic Trauma Clinic who treated Tara. “While Tara did not have any fractures around her knee, the soft tissue injuries to her knee and leg were extensive and severe.”
Warner, who’s also an associate professor and the Emmanuel Manny G. Melissinos, MD Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, said Tara’s helmet likely saved her from severe neurological damage.
“I tell people that God had a miracle to give out that day, and he picked me,” Tara said. “And my mom, who passed away 23 years ago, wrapped every single angel around me and protected me.”
Saving Tara’s leg
The initial surgery on Tara’s leg was critical. Warner and his team repaired the damaged tissues using sutures to reconnect the muscle and tendon to her kneecap and then close the skin, creating the foundation for Tara’s recovery.
The first six weeks of mobility were challenging. Her left arm was in an elbow cast, and her right leg was encased in bracing. Crutches, a walker, and a wheelchair weren’t options for getting around.
For weeks following the traumatic accident, Tara wasn’t mentally prepared to see her bike, which she had named “Silver Bullet,” now sitting in five pieces in her garage.
“There aren’t enough words to describe all the emotions I experienced when I saw my bike for the first time,” Tara said. “We went through so much together. I’m not at a place mentally and emotionally to say goodbye. And I don’t know that I’ll ever be.”
Improving mobility with a second procedure
At 12 weeks post-surgery, Tara’s recovery plateaued. The extensive soft tissue damage led to significant scar tissue formation, which restricted her knee’s range of motion to 70 degrees. Tara needed a second procedure to help regain mobility. This was particularly important for someone who loved high-intensity activities.
Randal M. Camarillo, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with UT Physicians Orthopedics — Katy, said it’s common for patients to develop scar tissue during the healing process after big traumas. He recommended a procedure called arthroscopic lysis of adhesions. After making two small incisions, Camarillo broke up the scar tissue around her kneecap and inside her knee.
Recovery took time. Camarillo emphasized that patients must be diligent after scar tissue removal.
“The first month is all about motion, motion, motion,” said Camarillo, assistant professor of orthopedics at McGovern Medical School. “The brain has been programmed that the knee won’t bend, so you have to work at it. Tara was motivated so she could continue to physical therapy.”
If it weren’t for my UT Physicians doctors,
Tara Dilley, trauma patient
I probably wouldn’t have my right leg.
Tara’s athletic background was invaluable as she took charge of her own recovery, incorporating formal therapy with home exercises. She described her house as a therapy unit after investing in a rowing machine and stationary bike to help rebuild her strength and mobility.
Reclaiming independence
Tara achieved a significant milestone on her birthday in November 2023, when she could finally drive again three months after the traumatic accident. She calls it her birthday present to herself. That first solo drive to therapy marked a crucial step toward reclaiming her independence. Up until that point, she had to rely on others for transportation. “When you’re so independent, and you have to switch to being dependent, it’s hard,” Tara said. “Emotionally, mentally, physically — it’s hard.”
Through it all, Tara’s spirit remained unbroken. She chronicled her recovery journey in photos and video, demonstrating her progress and determination. She praised her surgeons for their expertise.
“I like to say Dr. Warner saved my life, as in having a leg and everything, and Dr. Camarillo gave me my life back, as he had to help me with my mobility,” Tara said.
After several months of follow-up care and rehabilitation, the goal — getting Tara back to 100% — was finally within reach. Amazingly, she was walking, playing volleyball, and preparing to run a 10K in the 2024 UTHealth Houston Half Marathon & 10K.
“It’s not always possible with trauma patients who are hit by a car to get back to what they were doing, but she’s doing it,” Camarillo said. “She’s just a great story of a good outcome despite a bad injury.”
Tara’s determination impresses Warner.
“Tara was a phenomenal patient, highly motivated to return to all of her activities,” Warner said. “She demonstrated such resilience. For us, treating patients like her is truly a privilege.”
Moving forward
Despite her broken bike, Tara isn’t broken. She achieved her goal of running a 10K with a quick, personal pep talk from Warner before the run. She later saw him cheering from the sidelines as she approached the finish line.
“That solidified how important this was for me,” Tara said. “I felt it was only appropriate to train for this UTHealth Houston-sponsored run because if it weren’t for my UT Physicians doctors, I probably wouldn’t have my right leg.”
View Tara’s inspiring video.
