An 8-year-old girl from Atlanta is spending Christmas in the hospital after being struck by a car just days before the holiday, leaving her family balancing fear, gratitude, and an uncertain road to recovery.
Kayla Frazier, described by relatives as energetic and widely loved, was injured on Dec. 19, 2025, after being hit by a vehicle near her family’s home in the English Avenue neighborhood. The incident occurred shortly before 4 p.m., according to an Atlanta Police Department report.
The driver told officers that two children ran into the roadway. While the driver was able to avoid one child, the other—identified as Kayla—was struck. Police said the injured child was unable to speak at the scene before being transported to the hospital, and the report listed the pedestrian as being at fault.
“All I cared about was getting to my baby,” said Kayla’s mother, Tia Lawson, recalling the frantic moments after learning of the crash. “They blocked off the interstate, and I still had to run to my baby.”
Doctors say Kayla sustained multiple injuries, including trauma to her ear, back, and spine. She remains heavily sedated, and her family has been told she will require physical therapy before she can walk again. Despite her condition, Lawson says her daughter has shown small signs of strength and awareness.
“She’ll give you the thumbs up,” Lawson said.
Kayla, a Georgia Rattlers cheerleader and the youngest of five children, is now facing a lengthy recovery that has placed additional strain on her family.
Lawson said the household relies on a single income, and mounting medical expenses have prompted the family to set up a GoFundMe to help cover costs associated with treatment and rehabilitation.
While the holiday season has been dramatically altered, Lawson said the family remains focused on gratitude.
“This Christmas is different,” she said. “But we’re thankful. My child is alive.”
